Bern City Council to Increase Financial Competencies, Referendum Thresholds
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City Councilor Bern | 28. August 2025
The city parliament is moving to increase the financial competencies of both the city council and the municipal council.A key change proposes raising the mandatory referendum threshold to projects exceeding twelve million francs in cost. On Thursday, the city council also approved a loan for the renovation of the Felsenaubrücke and adopted growth regulations for Weyermannshaus West.
[Image: Should receive more financial competence: Bern’s local council with (from left to right) Matthias Aebischer, Melanie Mettler, City President Marieke Kruit, Ursina Anderegg and Alec von Graffenried. Photo: ZVG/City of Bern]
Bern aims to modernize the financial powers of it’s city and local councils. The current limit of seven million francs hasn’t been adjusted in 25 years, failing to account for rising prices and increasingly complex construction projects.
This has led to a surge in referendums, even for relatively minor projects exceeding the council’s financial authority.The voting day of June 18,2023,saw a record-breaking seventeen proposals put to voters – a meaningful burden on both citizens and the administration.
“A little less would be more,” stated SP City Councilor Chandru Somatsundara, arguing that raising the thresholds wouldn’t restrict direct democracy.He suggested voters could become overwhelmed and disengaged by the sheer volume of ballots.
Maurice Lindgren (GLP) echoed this sentiment, noting that the numerous votes slow down processes and procedures.
However, SVP City Councilor Alexander Feuz cautioned against restricting direct democracy, asserting that a high volume of votes is simply the price of a democratic system. He argued against “self-castration,” emphasizing the importance of citizen participation.
Currently, the spending threshold for the city parliament is seven million francs. The proposal would raise this to twelve million, meaning citizens would only vote on projects exceeding that amount.
The financial competence of the local council is also slated to increase, from 300,000 to 500,000 francs. Projects exceeding half a million francs would require city council approval.
The existing threshold for optional referendums will remain unchanged, allowing citizens to force a vote on projects exceeding two million francs.
The city council approved the parliamentary initiative with 50 votes in favor, 15 against, and 3 abstentions. The final decision rests with the people, as the city council also passed the voting message on Thursday.Funding for Felsenaubrücke Renovation
The city council also authorized a CHF 2.35 million loan for the renovation of the Felsenaubrücke, a bridge connecting Bern to the neighboring community of Bremgarten, originally put into operation in 1949.
[Image: Image of Felsenaubrücke – URL not fully provided in source]
Bern city Council rejects Continuation of Franco-German Bilingual School Program
The Bern City Council has decided to discontinue its Franco-German bilingual school program in the summer of 2026, despite passionate debate and criticism from the community. The program, launched in 2019, offered instruction with half the lessons in German and half in french, aiming to support Bern’s status as the capital of a bilingual canton. However, the council cited financial, organizational, and professional challenges as reasons for its decision.
Background of the Program
The Franco-German bilingual school program began in 2019, serving over 90 students and employing ten teachers. It was designed to provide immersive language learning, with an equal balance of german and French instruction. The program aimed to cater to the unique linguistic landscape of Bern, a canton where both languages hold official status.
Reasons for Discontinuation
The city council announced in early May 2025 that it would not extend the program beyond the 2025-2026 school year. The decision was based on several key factors:
Financial Costs: The program incurred additional costs of up to one million swiss francs per year. https://www.bern.ch/ (this link directs to the official Bern city website,where further information on city council decisions can be found.)
Organizational Complexity: Integrating bilingual instruction proved “extraordinarily demanding” in terms of personnel planning, school development, and teacher training, particularly given the existing shortage of skilled educators.
Impact on Core Subjects: The council expressed concern that dedicating time to two languages equally would compromise the quality of instruction in mandatory subjects.
During the debate,some council members even used French to emphasize the importance of maintaining bilingual education options in the canton. Despite this, the council ultimately steadfast the program was unsustainable.
Community Reaction
The declaration of the program’s closure sparked significant criticism within Bern. Many residents voiced concerns about the impact on bilingual education opportunities and the message it sends about the city’s commitment to its linguistic heritage. local media outlets reported widespread disappointment and calls for alternative solutions. https://www.bernerzeitung.ch/ (This link directs to the Berner Zeitung, a major local newspaper in Bern, which likely covered the story.)
Looking Ahead
The discontinuation of the Franco-German bilingual program raises questions about the future of bilingual education in bern.While the city council has cited practical challenges, the decision underscores the ongoing debate about balancing linguistic diversity with budgetary constraints and educational priorities. It remains to be seen whether alternative models for bilingual education will be explored to address the concerns of the community and preserve Bern’s unique linguistic character.
Key Takeaways:
The Bern City Council has voted to end the Franco-German bilingual school program in 2026.
The decision was driven by financial costs,organizational challenges,and concerns about the impact on core subjects. The program served over 90 students and employed ten teachers.
* The closure has been met with criticism from the Bern community.