Fiscal equalisation: Grand Council rejects call for new study

In approving the report, the majority of the Grand Council rejected the motion sponsors' proposal. The subject is intercantonal fiscal equalisation: complaints alone will not correct it, and technical precision is needed.

The motions were submitted two years ago by Avanti con Ticino e Lavoro, and thirteen years ago by Bruno Storni, then a Socialist member of the Grand Council.

Ticino is, however, a beneficiary canton. So why is there discontent?

According to Ivo Durisch, head of the Socialist Party group, the situation is becoming structural. Some cantons are accumulating wealth, while Ticino is losing momentum.

According to critics, the system does not properly reflect Ticino's specific features. In particular, the large presence of cross-border commuters would make the canton appear richer than it really is. Hence the call for a new calculation system.

Bern has, however, already said that the current system will not be touched at least until 2030. This position provoked a reaction from the Council of State.

The parameters at stake

Amalia Mirante, a member of the Grand Council for Avanti con Ticino e Lavoro, recalls that equalisation is «una questione tecnica» (a technical question). According to Mirante, changing even one parameter can shift millions from one canton to another. The proposal is therefore to commission a specific study.

Opponents argue instead that the analyses have already been carried out and the problem identified. According to this position, it is time for political action.

Alessandro Speziali, a member of the Liberal Radical Party (PLR), says the documents are already on the table of the Federal Council. According to Speziali, a majority of cantons has already formed around the proposed change. The analyses should be checked and updated where necessary, but the priority is to turn the support already gathered into a decision.

The Council of State is also concerned about the balance of power between cantons, which look set to become more pronounced in the coming years. Ticino does not count among the heavyweights.

Christian Vitta, director of the Department of Finance and Economy, fears that Ticino could still be left empty-handed in 2030. According to Vitta, «stiamo entrando in una fase di risorse che scarseggiano» (we are entering a phase in which resources are running short). The call is therefore to keep working, mindful of the difficulties: «non sarà facile ottenere grandi modifiche anche nel 2030» (it will not be easy to secure major changes even in 2030).

The debate does not say what the requested study would cost or how long it would take. Which parts of the existing analyses still need to be checked?