Federal Council sets out details of relief measures in earmarked expenditure
Bern, 29.3.2023 - On 25 January and 15 February 2023, the Federal Council decided on measures to ease the burden on the budget. It already adopted adjustment measures of CHF 2 billion for 2024. However, as these measures are not sufficient to eliminate the structural deficits from 2025 onwards, it also wishes to look at strictly earmarked expenditure. During its meeting on 29 March 2023, the Federal Council set out the details of this decision, which provides for temporary reductions in federal contributions to unemployment insurance and the railway infrastructure fund, as well as a reduction in the cantons' share of direct federal tax. The consultation draft is planned for June. Benefit-related old-age and survivors' insurance measures, particularly in the area of pensions for widows, are to be addressed with a separate proposal and should ease the burden on the federal budget from 2026 onwards. This package of measures should save the federal budget around CHF 600 million to 700 million per year from 2025 onwards. This means that a deficit will remain in the financial plan years.