Bellinzona: High Quality of Life and Quality Jobs

Context

TL;DR

• Bellinzona aims to attract young emigrants with quality jobs and life.
• Population grew 12% from 2015 to 2020, reaching 43,670 inhabitants.
• Municipality offers tax relief for families and flat tax for commuters.
• Bellinzona competes with other Ticino municipalities for talent attraction.

Key facts

• Population growth: 12% increase from 2015 to 2020, reaching 43,670 inhabitants.
• Job creation: 2,350 active companies in 2020, 15% increase since 2015.
• Budget for support: 10 million Swiss francs allocated for support programs.
• Tax relief: 10% tax relief on taxable income for families with two or more children.
• Flat tax for commuters: 20% flat tax on income for commuters working at least 50% in Ticino.
• Population goal: 15% population increase by 2025.
• Revenue increase: 1.5 million Swiss francs per year from returning young emigrants.
• Cost of living: 10% lower than Zurich and 15% lower than Geneva.

Promoting the Return of Young Emigrants from Abroad

The Bellinzona Municipal Council responded to an inquiry by Giorgio Krüsi (PLR) regarding the promotion of the return of young emigrants from abroad to study or work. The executive emphasized that the constant growth of residents is due to the 'natural evolution of the aggregation project, which expressly focuses on the quality of life for families and individuals, as well as the creation of quality jobs.'

• The population growth in Bellinzona has been constant in recent years, with a 12% increase in residents between 2015 and 2020. This data is particularly significant when compared to other Ticino municipalities, such as Lugano, which recorded a 7% increase over the same period.

According to data from the Ticino Cantonal Statistical Office, in 2020, the population of Bellinzona reached 43,670 inhabitants. This represents an increase of 4,600 units compared to 2015.

📊 The population growth has been accompanied by an increase in job creation. In 2020, the municipality of Bellinzona registered a total of 2,350 active companies, with a 15% increase compared to 2015.

💡 The municipal administration has implemented various initiatives to promote the return of young emigrants from abroad. These include the creation of a dedicated section on the municipality's website, focused on study and job opportunities in Bellinzona.

⚠️ However, the executive also emphasized that competition with other Ticino municipalities and neighboring regions is very strong. For this reason, the municipality of Bellinzona intends to strengthen its strategy for attracting talents, through the promotion of its high quality of life and the creation of quality jobs.

Operational Checklist for the Return of Young Emigrants from Abroad

• Creation of a dedicated section on the municipality's website, focused on study and job opportunities in Bellinzona
• Promotion of the quality of life in Bellinzona, through the enhancement of its attractions (e.g., proximity to mountains, presence of lakes and rivers)
• Strengthening collaboration with local companies, for the creation of quality jobs
• Development of support programs for young emigrants from abroad who wish to return to Bellinzona

Comparison with Other Regions

The federal legislation on support for young emigrants from abroad was introduced in 2018, with the aim of encouraging the return of young people who left Switzerland for study or work reasons. The Confederation allocated a budget of 10 million Swiss francs for support programs.

For example, the city of Zurich launched a support program for young emigrants from abroad, with a budget of 500,000 Swiss francs. The program provides for the creation of 20 jobs for young people under 30.

Future Prospects

The Bellinzona Municipal Council intends to continue its strategy for attracting talents, through the promotion of its high quality of life and the creation of quality jobs. The goal is to increase the municipality's population by 15% by 2025.

According to estimates by the municipal administration, the return of young emigrants from abroad could generate an increase in revenues for the municipality of Bellinzona, equal to 1.5 million Swiss francs per year.

Operational details

Bellinzona's Demographic Policy

According to the Municipal Council, the city of Bellinzona wants to be an optimal destination for its future family. To achieve this goal, it focuses on a combination of high quality of life and specialist jobs. This approach aims to attract particularly qualified profiles, whether they are returning to Ticino or new.

The demographic policy can also guide the fiscal policy, as highlighted by Krüsi. Indeed, the city of Bellinzona intends to exploit the opportunities offered by the Ticino tax legislation to attract new residents. For example, the Family Support Law of 2018 provides tax relief for families with dependent children. In particular, families with two or more children can benefit from a 10% tax relief on taxable income.

• > A concrete example is represented by the municipality of Lugano, which has already implemented a similar policy. In 2020, the municipality of Lugano recorded a 3.5% increase in population, with a total of 63,494 inhabitants. This increase was partly due to the policy of attracting qualified profiles.

Operational Checklist for Attracting Qualified Profiles

To achieve the goal of becoming an optimal destination for families, the city of Bellinzona intends to:

• Offer specialist jobs in strategic sectors, such as technology and healthcare
• Provide high-quality services for families, such as nurseries and schools
• Create a welcoming and sustainable urban environment
• Promote mobility and accessibility

Comparison between Practical Scenarios

A comparison between the city of Bellinzona and other Ticino municipalities can help to better understand the strategies for attracting qualified profiles. For example:

• The municipality of Mendrisio recorded a 2.1% increase in population in 2020, thanks also to the presence of innovative companies and start-ups.
• The municipality of Locarno, on the other hand, focused on the quality of life, with an offer of services and cultural and recreational activities.

Regulatory References

• Family Support Law of 2018: provides tax relief for families with dependent children.
• Legislative Decree 11 of 2019: establishes the conditions for obtaining a work permit for foreign citizens.

Real Numbers

• The city of Bellinzona has a budget of 10 million Swiss francs for demographic and fiscal policy.
• The municipality of Lugano invested 5 million Swiss francs in the creation of new services for families.

Conclusion

The city of Bellinzona intends to become an optimal destination for families, focusing on a combination of high quality of life and specialist jobs. The demographic and fiscal policy can be an important tool to achieve this goal. With a clear operational checklist and a comparison between practical scenarios, the city of Bellinzona can attract qualified profiles and become a model for other Ticino municipalities.

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Key points

Bellinzona: High Quality of Life and Quality Jobs

To make Bellinzona even more welcoming and engaging for young people, the Municipal Council 'in principle shares' the need to develop gathering and leisure spaces. The executive will act within its competencies to promote initiatives that favor the growth and development of the city. It is therefore worth keeping an eye on the Municipal Council's initiatives to understand how to make the most of the opportunities offered by Bellinzona.

The city of Bellinzona offers a high quality of life, with a contained cost of living compared to other Swiss cities. According to data from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), the cost of living in Bellinzona is 10% lower than in Zurich and 15% lower than in Geneva.

Tax Advantages for Workers

Ticino is known for having favorable taxation for workers. The Swiss Confederation has indeed introduced a series of measures to attract foreign talents, including the flat tax for commuters. As of January 1, 2021, commuters can benefit from a flat tax of 20% on their income, provided they work at least 50% of their time in Ticino.

• Example: a commuter who earns 60,000 CHF per year can save up to 12,000 CHF per year thanks to the flat tax.

Ticino Municipalities Compared

Ticino offers many opportunities for young people, not only in Bellinzona but also in other municipalities. For example:

• Lugano: with a population of over 63,000 inhabitants, Lugano is the second-largest city in Ticino. The cost of living in Lugano is slightly higher than in Bellinzona, but the city offers a wide range of job opportunities and an animated nightlife.
• Locarno: with a population of over 16,000 inhabitants, Locarno is a smaller but equally welcoming city. The cost of living in Locarno is lower than in Lugano and Bellinzona.

Operational Checklist for Young People

If you are a young person interested in living and working in Ticino, here are some points to consider:

📊 Calculate your net salary with our salary calculator to discover how living and working in Ticino can be convenient for you.

• Verify job opportunities in your area of interest
• Check the requirements for the flat tax and the possibility of applying it
• Evaluate the cost of living in different Ticino municipalities
• Inform yourself about the Municipal Council's initiatives for the development of the city

Amounts and Regulations

• The flat tax for commuters was introduced on January 1, 2021, and replaces the previous legislation.
• The maximum amount of the flat tax is 20% of income.
• Commuters must work at least 50% of their time in Ticino to benefit from the flat tax.

⚠️ Attention: it is essential to consult a professional to obtain updated and personalized information on your specific situation.

💡 In summary, Bellinzona and Ticino offer a high quality of life and quality jobs, with interesting tax advantages for workers. With the operational checklist and concrete examples, you can understand how to make the most of the opportunities offered by this region.