Berners are defending themselves against a doubling of parking fees

A committee in the city of Bern has collected some 3,000 signatures for a double referendum against increasing parking fees. That is more than in the past 30 years. The referendum commission sees this as a “strong signal from the population”.

A referendum in the city of Bern requires 1,500 signatures. According to its own statements, the committee “against surcharge madness” had this number in order after three weeks on Tuesday. Nearly 3,000 signatures have now been collected and submitted.

Vote June 18

The double referendum is directed against an increase in the price for residents’ parking cards on the one hand and against an increase in the rate for paid parking spaces on the other. Voters are expected to decide on the bill on June 18.

The large number of signatures showed that the population did not want the government and parliament of the federal city to address the structural financial problems with “exorbitant fees, but with cuts,” the commission said in a statement.

An impartial committee consisting of FDP, Mitte and SVP held a referendum against Bern’s city council’s decision to make parking noticeably more expensive.

Resident parking card should be twice as expensive

According to the decisions of the city council, the parking card for residents for the blue zone will cost CHF 492 per year in the future. Red-green even wanted 720 francs – three times as much as today, where 264 francs are due.

Paid parking spaces are also becoming increasingly expensive. They should now cost 3.30 francs an hour instead of the previous 2.20 francs.

Good odds

In the past 32 years, not as many signatures have been collected for a referendum in the city of Bern as is now the case. Since 1990, a total of eight referendum bills have been submitted. Most signatures in 2006 were against the salvage yard north: 2442 voters signed the referendum. The proposal was rejected at the ballot box.

But that need not mean anything: the seven other referendum drafts were submitted with a lower number of signatures – six of them were accepted.

The vote on the new staff regulations is still pending. Among other things, this provides a full cost of living reimbursement for city employees – and that with tight cash. 1788 valid signatures came together. The vote is also expected to take place on June 18, 2023. (SDA/sf)