The Local
Despite rejection at the Swiss level, Bern’s city council wants to pay a universal basic income (UBI) to 300 residents, a test project that will be a first for Switzerland.
Even though nearly 77 percent of voters rejected a similar proposal in 2016 in a national referendum, the majority of Bern’s city council has given this idea a thumbs-up.
While the exact amount of pay was not determined, the left-wing majority has approved the 9-million-franc test project, even though city coffers are short of funds and the municipal debt will soon reach 1.7 billion.
However, those in favour are counting on the financial equalisation — that is, the system of redistributing taxes between the cantons — to pay for this UBI project.
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