Most cantons are expecting a deficit in their budgets for 2026. In several cantons, austerity programmes are either already underway or planned. In others, tax cuts are foreseen. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox “The largest shares of cantonal expenditure are for education, social affairs and health," Ernst Stocker, president of the Conference of Cantonal Finance Directors, told the Keystone-SDA news agency on Friday. In various cantons, expenditure has grown faster than income. This trend is confirmed in the 2026 budgets, Stocker added. In some cantons, there is also a high need for investment. On the revenue side, some cantons are expecting a slowdown in economic growth after several years of favourable economic conditions. Zug and Bern plan tax cuts Canton Zug is expecting the highest revenue surplus (CHF 370 million), although expenditure is expected to rise by over CHF300 million. The canton is planning to reduce the tax rate from 82% to 78%, which ...
