– The grand oral of equalization in four questions
The “new intercommunal equalization” dear to the government is being examined by deputies this month. Summary of the issues.
Published today at 08:19
In March 2023, the agreement described as historic was signed in front of the press by the government and representatives of the municipal umbrella organizations. From left. to the right: the head of the Finance Department, Valérie Dittli, Michel Buttin, president of the ADCV, Christelle Luisier Brodard, president of the Council of State, Chantal Weidmann Yenny, president of the UCV, and the head of the Department of health and social action, Rebecca Ruiz.
ARC/Jean-Bernard Sieber
As complicated as it is rusty, the mechanism in Tinguely regulating both the distribution of social and police bills between the Canton and the municipalities, as well as the redistribution of wealth between the latter, is good for destruction. Make way for the “new intercommunal equalization”, NPIV for its nickname. This agreement described as “historic” was presented a year ago by the Council of State and the umbrella organizations of the municipalities, the UCV and the ADCV.
Fruit of long and stormy negotiations, the new system is intended to be simpler and more transparent. And more advantageous for the municipalities, the State having agreed to put more money on the table, to demand less from them (read box). This assembly has the value of a counter-project to the “Common SOS” initiative, coming from those most revolted against the current model. Which demand that the entire social bill be paid in the future by the Canton, by virtue of the adage “who commands pays”.
It is now up to the Grand Council to approve the NPIV; he grabbed this package on Tuesday. Overview of the issues.
Will the NPIV be unraveled?
The probability is almost zero because the main political groups are committed to the cause. The new equalization has reconciled the Canton and the two municipal umbrella organizations. Their respective general assemblies largely supported the NPIV last year. This institutional peace is considered valuable.
The Grand Council could, at most, move a cursor of the NPIV. The majority of the commission which studied the file suggests modifying the calculation taking into account the altitude of the inhabitants. Objective: to slightly improve the fate of municipalities which, like Bex, have to deal with high-altitude hamlets and a steep slope. Because if 75% of municipalities will be winners with the new rules of the common pot, the other quarter makes a face. These “losers” will, however, benefit from transitional measures, i.e. an infusion of money from the Canton, which will gradually decrease until weaning in 2030.
Will the radical left get “more solidarity”?
Given the balance of power, this seems unlikely. But the modifications requested by Ensemble à Gauche-POP (EP) will give rise to the real substantive debate on equalization. Between the old and new systems, one thing does not change: the gap between the tax resources of the municipalities will only remain compensated to the extent of 80%. It is measured by calculating the amount that each receives per inhabitant and for one tax point: 19 francs in Moudon, 165 francs in Jouxtens-Mézery, for example. Only partially mitigating these disparities is “insufficient for municipalities with low financial capacity such as Bex or Renens,” said Popist MP Vincent Keller: “100% compensation is fully justified.”
If the NPIV is a missed opportunity to strengthen solidarity between municipalities, according to the radical left, it is because the government was spurred by the “SOS communes” initiative, “launched by a consortium of municipalities with very strong capacity financial,” she argues.
Can the NPIV be adapted later?
Too happy to have given birth to a beautiful baby after a risky pregnancy, the Council of State would now like to move on. In short: put equalization in the drawer and leave it there until 2031, for a first “evaluation” of the system. Before this date, the president of the government, Christelle Luisier, promised that her Department of Institutions “would act if harmful effects were observed”.
The commission is keen to monitor closely. His wish: that the stakeholders remain “in permanent discussion regarding the possible improvement of the system, as soon as it comes into force”.
Will the “Common SOS” initiative be withdrawn?
PLR MP and vice-president of the initiative committee, Joséphine Byrne Garelli did not hide in the plenum that she had prepared to “experience great moments of solitude” during the debates. She certainly has around her a few fellow deputies who have invested in “SOS communes”, but the majority of liberal-radicals should remain aligned behind the Council of State. If the NPIV is accepted, will the initiative be withdrawn for the sake of peace? “Our committee will meet once we know what the Grand Council voted for,” Joséphine Byrne Garelli cautiously procrastinates.
If “SOS communes” is maintained, then the people of Vaud will have to choose whether they prefer this text to the NPIV, its counter-project. The vote would take place next September. If the initiative is withdrawn, then the new equalization will come into force, unless of course a referendum is launched.
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