Bern is not slow here either

Despite current deficits and debts in the billions: the city of Bern wants to buy a property in the residential area for almost four million francs. For a playground. However, an impartial committee made up of middle-class politicians called the referendum. The criticism: “Way too expensive for a game and meeting zone!”

Time and again criticism of the financial policy of the red-green controlled city. Because: Bern is heavily in debt. According to the financial plan, she will have accumulated a billion and 395 million francs in debt by the end of the year. Only: although the city should actually save, they like to spend the money with both hands.

The city of Bern rents rooms at Welle 7 near the train station for CHF 2.4 million. From the second quarter of 2023, it wants to set up a bicycle station with 660 bicycle parking spaces and operate it until mid-2025. As a pilot project, bicycles can be parked there for free for 24 hours.

The project called a referendum commission into action. His criticism: “Unnecessary luxury, too expensive!” It complained that the city was incurring costs of more than 80 francs per month and bicycle space. With the project you run the risk of wasting taxpayers’ money unnecessarily. Only: the committee had no chance. The voters of the city of Bern clearly approved the loan.

Since the beginning of the year, employees of the city of Bern have received a full expense allowance of three percent. They owe that to the SP. At her request, the city of Bern has made an additional CHF 7 million available for the 2023 budget. This increased the budget deficit of the city of Bern for the current year from CHF 28 to CHF 35 million.

Rood-Groen justified the adjustment of the cost of living by saying that the city was obliged to do so according to the personnel regulations. And: Ultimately, the employees who kept the city alive with their jobs would benefit.

The city of Bern is committed to climate and city-friendly mobility. Therefore, the city staff offers preferential conditions for the bicycle rental system Velo Bern in the city of Bern. These get generous discounts. Employees can use the bicycle rental free of charge for the first hour. After that, they benefit from a cheaper rate. The offer is also valid at other bike rental companies in Switzerland and during the employees’ free time.

And: individual stations are even specially adapted to the needs of city employees. In 2018, the city council approved the necessary loan. The employee offer runs until the end of June 2023. Cost: CHF 800,000.

The municipal council also wants to make this offer available to city administrators, teachers and municipal councilors in the future. Therefore, he submitted a commitment loan of almost CHF 800,000 to the city council for approval for the period from July 2023 to the end of 2025. If the city council approves the loan, the project will continue without interruption.