Financial planning

The Canton of Zurich is the driving force of Switzerland’s economy and a highly popular place to live. We want it to stay that way. But the associated growth makes financial planning very challenging.

The cantonal budget comprises annual revenue and expenses of over 18 billion Swiss francs, making it Switzerland’s second-largest public budget (after the federal government).

For successful financial planning, it takes three things:

• the budget,

• the consolidated development and finance plan KEF,

• the annual financial statement.
  

Tax multiplier sightly reduced

Despite the strong growth, the canton has been able to reduce the tax multiplier slightly in recent years: The Cantonal Parliament has lowered the tax multiplier by one percentage point in both 2022 and 2024. The tax multiplier is now 98 per cent. Previously, the canton of Zurich had a tax multiplier of 100 per cent for around 20 years.

Cantonal budget

For the 2023–2027 legislature, the Government Council has determined the following objectives:

• Healthy cantonal finances.

• Economical and cost-efficient execution of the cantonal tasks.

AAA rating

The Canton of Zurich has very stable cantonal finances and has been rated AAA by rating agencies for years. Despite the financial crisis, it has been able to lower the cantonal debt considerably since its peak at the end of the 1990s.