Cantonal referendum on "Increase in ship tax"
| Cantonal referendum | |
|---|---|
| "Increase in ship tax" | |
| Result: | Accepted |
| General | |
| Canton: | Lucerne |
| Date: | November 28, 2004 |
| Participation: | 44.81% |
| Recommendation of the Cantonal Council | |
| Yes: | 88 |
| No: | 12 |
| result | |
| Yes: | 56,761 (54.73%) |
| No: | 46,944 (45.27%) |
| Yes votes by district | |
|
|
The cantonal referendum on "Increase in ship tax" was a referendum in the Swiss canton of Lucerne that took place on November 28, 2004. The content of the vote was to increase the ship tax.
Background and content
After the canton of Lucerne closed with a deficit in 2003 and there was no sign of improvement for the following years, the government council developed a concept called “austerity package 2005” in order to be able to pursue its debt reduction goals. 80% of the budget improvements were to be achieved through spending cuts, while additional measures aimed at increasing income of 20 million. A portion of around one million francs should be achieved by roughly doubling the ship taxes. The amendment to the law was approved by the Grand Council on June 14, 2004 by 88 to 12.
referendum
The change in the law was published on June 19, 2004 in the Lucerne Cantonal Gazette. During the referendum period of two months, a committee consisting of the SVP of the Canton of Lucerne, the Lucerne Water Sports Club and the Association for Portable Taxes collected and submitted 4675 valid signatures against the change in the law. This gave them the 3,000 signatures required for a referendum. Her argument against the change in the law included:
- The canton of Lucerne is already one of the cantons with the highest taxes, fees and charges in Switzerland.
- The canton must learn to be more economical and should not offset its waste at the expense of the population by increasing taxes.
- Boat owners are a "popular victim" with the government council for tax increases
- In 1998 a tax increase of 30% would have taken place
- Compared to the cantons of Obwalden and Nidwalden , shipping taxes in the canton of Lucerne would be more than 2.5 times higher from 2005. The canton of Zug would even waive a ship tax entirely
- The increased taxes in some cases would force the owners to sell their honestly saved boat
- This would mean that only luxury yachts would be found on the lakes, while the boats are noticeably disappearing
Voting result
As the only of the then five offices of the Canton has Entlebuch refusing to submit to 44%. All other offices approved the proposal, with the highest percentage of yes votes in the Lucerne office with 57%. The cantonal average was 55% supporters and a turnout of 45%. The increase in the ship tax , in contrast to the "increase in motor vehicle taxes" , which was voted on the same day and which was also intended as a measure of the "austerity package 2005", was accepted.
| Office | Voting participation | Yes (number) | No (number) | Yes (percent) | No (percent) | adoption |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entlebuch | 45.85% | 2,568 | 3,278 | 43.93% | 56.07% | No |
| Hochdorf | 44.66% | 9,380 | 8,012 | 53.93% | 46.07% | Yes |
| Lucerne | 44.07% | 26,989 | 20'068 | 57.35% | 42.65% | Yes |
| Sursee | 46.88% | 10,694 | 9,069 | 54.11% | 45.89% | Yes |
| Willisau | 44.32% | 7,130 | 6,517 | 52.25% | 47.75% | Yes |
| Total (5) | 44.81% | 56,761 | 46,944 | 54.73% | 45.27% | Yes |
Change of law
No. 788a
Law on Ship
Tax
Amendment of June 14, 2004 *
The Grand Council of the Canton of Lucerne, after considering the message of the Government Council of March 5, 2004 1 , decides:
I.
The Law on Ship Tax of December 1, 1997 2 is amended as follows:
§ 6 Paragraph 1a
1 The annual tax for
a. Motor and sailing ships
up to 5 m in length CHF 110.–
up to 7 m length CHF 150.–
up to 9 m length CHF 200.–
over 9 m length CHF 250.–
There is a surcharge for each full or partial kW drive power Charged according to the following gradation:
up to 200 kW output CHF 8.50
from 201 to 300 kW output CHF 9.50
above 300 kW output CHF 10.50
§ 7 paragraph 1
1 For ships with a limited traffic permit, a quarter of the normal tax, but at least 100 francs, is due pay.
Section 9 Paragraph 2 (new)
2 The Government Council may temporarily forego a contribution in accordance with Paragraph 1 or reduce the accumulated funds, provided that 500,000 francs are available for the stated purpose.
II.
The change comes into effect on January 1, 2005. It is subject to an optional referendum.
Lucerne, June 14, 2004
On behalf of the Grand Council
The President: Hans Lustenberger
The State Clerk: Viktor Baumeler
*K 2004 1651
1 Appears in the negotiations of the Grand Council in 2004.
2 G 1998 73