Geneva tax initiative fails badly

Geneva voters have roundly rejected the idea that residents’ communal taxes should be only for the commune where they live and not be shared with their place of work.

The cantonal initiative launched by the Swiss People’s Party ‘I live there, I pay there’ was thrown out by nearly 80% of voters. 

A counter proposal was also rejected by more than half. 

Geneva is unique in the country for splitting tax revenue from place of work and residence due to unusually high inequality of income. 

Under the proposed rules, the City of Geneva would have lost almost CHF 50m in revenue – and the richest communes would be even richer. 

Those against the idea say they’re delighted at the strength of the rejection and the cantonal finance minister, Natalie Fontanet, says she notes the people do not see reform of municipal taxation as urgent. 

 

 

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