Bellinzona: signature collection launched for public daycare centres

Context

TL;DR

• Bellinzona rejects public nursery proposal, initiative launched
• 10 associations operate nurseries, only 260 spots for 1,000 children
• Initiative aims for public nursery to reduce costs, 3,000 signatures needed by mid-July 2026
• Current fees: 1,200-1,400 francs/month, public nursery could lower costs

Key facts

• Data: 14 April 2026
• Luogo: Bellinzona, Svizzera
• Promotori: Partito Socialista, Forum Alternativo, Verdi, Più Donne, Avanti, Noce, Partito Comunista
• Obiettivo: Creare un asilo nido pubblico per aumentare i posti disponibili e ridurre i costi per le famiglie
• Posti disponibili: 260 posti per oltre 1,000 bambini di età compresa tra 0 e 3 anni
• Costo attuale: 1,200-1,400 franchi svizzeri al mese per un posto a tempo pieno
• Scadenza firme: 14 ottobre 2026
• Firme richieste: 3,000 firme valide

On Tuesday, 14 April 2026, the Bellinzona municipal council rejected a proposal to establish a public nursery in the city. However, within hours, a campaign to collect signatures for a municipal popular initiative was launched. The project is led by the Socialist Party, the Alternative Forum, the Greens, Più Donne, Avanti, Noce, and the Communist Party. The goal is clear: to create a public facility to increase available spots and reduce costs for families.

Why a public nursery is needed

The promoters of the initiative, titled More public childcare centres, emphasize that responsibility for caring for preschool children must be a collective effort. 'The City must take charge of this fundamental aspect for social life and work-life balance,' stated Martina Malacrida Nembrini, president of the Bellinzona Socialist Party. Currently, 10 associations operate nurseries in the Ticino capital, but the available spots are insufficient: out of over 1,000 children aged zero to three, only 260 have access to a spot. A 2023 study had already highlighted a structural deficit, which now risks worsening.

The municipal response: more spots, but with private associations

The Education, Culture, Youth, and Social Affairs department, led by Renato Bison, clarified that the administration shares the goal of expanding provision, but with a different approach. 'We want to strengthen our relationship with the existing private associations, bringing the number of available spots to around 300,' explained Bison. To streamline procedures, a single platform will be created for registrations, allowing families to choose from multiple options. However, this plan does not fully convince the initiative’s supporters, who advocate for a public facility to lower costs.

The issue of fees: up to 1,400 francs per month

One of the main criticisms concerns fees. According to collected data, families pay an average of between 1,200 and 1,400 francs per month for a full-time spot in a private facility. 'Private associations cannot be forced to adopt public or income-based tariffs,' emphasized Malacrida Nembrini. Only a nursery directly managed by the municipality could implement a system of financial aid based on families' economic situations, making the service accessible to all.

📊 Data source: Municipal report on childcare services, 2025

💡 Did you know? In Ticino, the demand for nursery spots exceeds supply by over 30% in urban areas.

⚠️ The initiative requires 1,000 valid signatures to be submitted to the municipal council by 14 October 2026.

Operational details

How many cross-border workers are involved?

Official data do not specify how many cross-border workers living in Bellinzona or nearby municipalities currently use local daycare services. However, work-life balance is a critical issue for this group, which often faces long waiting lists or high costs for childcare services. According to the promoting associations, the lack of a public alternative forces many families to give up employment or opt for informal solutions, with repercussions on the Ticino labour market.

'The absence of affordable public childcare disproportionately affects low-income families and workers with young children,' explained Maura Nembrini Mossi from Più Donne.

Before vs after: what changes for families

Currently, families seeking a daycare spot must register with multiple associations to increase their chances of securing a place, creating artificial waiting lists because spots are not actually available. With the initiative, the aim is to eliminate this mechanism, ensuring transparent allocation processes and fairer fees. The municipality, however, proposes a centralized registration system for private associations, without intervening on fees.

📊 Key differences:

• Current system: Families must register with multiple private associations, leading to inflated waiting lists and no guarantee of a spot.
• Initiative proposal: A single, transparent system with public oversight to ensure fair and equitable access.
• Municipal proposal: Centralized registration for private associations, but no changes to fees.

Risks of a mixed approach

Initiative supporters warn that without a public daycare, the cost issue remains unresolved. High fees particularly penalize low-income families and workers with young children. Additionally, the lack of a public alternative could discourage young couples from settling in Bellinzona, with negative effects on local demographics and the economy.

⚠️ Potential consequences:

• Increased reliance on informal childcare solutions.
• Higher barriers to employment for cross-border workers and local families.
• Negative impact on Bellinzona’s long-term economic and demographic growth.

Comparison with other Ticino municipalities

Bellinzona is not the only municipality in the canton grappling with this issue. Some towns, like Lugano and Locarno, have already established public or semi-public daycare services, achieving positive results in terms of accessibility and service quality. In Bellinzona, however, the administration is banking on a hybrid model, which may not fully meet families’ needs.

💡 Examples from Ticino:

• Lugano: Public daycare centres with subsidized rates for low-income families.
• Locarno: Semi-public model with municipal oversight and transparent allocation processes.
• Bellinzona: Proposed hybrid system with centralized private registration but no public daycare.

Deadlines and procedures for the promoters

To submit the initiative to the municipal council, the promoters must collect 3,000 signatures by mid-July 2026. Once submitted, the municipality will have 60 days to evaluate the proposal. If the initiative is accepted, the next phase will involve planning and financing a new public daycare centre.

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Key points

How to support the signature collection

Those wishing to back the More public daycare centres initiative can visit the collection points organised by the supporting parties, including the Socialist Party headquarters in Bellinzona, the Verdi Circle at via San Gottardo, and the Più Donne premises on via Nassa. Signatures can also be collected online via the official website of the organising committee, where an updated list of collection points will be published.

What happens after the signature collection?

Once the required number of signatures is reached, the initiative will be submitted to the Bellinzona Town Hall. The municipal council will then have two months to decide: it may accept the initiative, reject it, or propose a countermeasure. If accepted, a feasibility study will be carried out to identify the location and funding for the new public daycare centre.

For cross-border workers: what to check now

If you are a cross-border worker living in Bellinzona or the surrounding area and have preschool-age children, it is worth:

• Checking the enrolment requirements at current private associations, as the new municipal platform will only become operational once the project is approved;
• Considering the alternatives available in nearby municipalities, where public daycare centres may offer more advantageous conditions;
• Monitoring the progress of the initiative on the Bellinzona Town Hall website or the channels of the supporting parties to find out when it will be discussed by the municipal council.

Useful tools

For those seeking up-to-date information on daycare centres in Ticino, we recommend consulting:

• Map of daycare centres in the canton
• Cost of living calculator for families with children
• Guides for cross-border workers on work-life balance

📊 Appointment with participatory democracy

The signature collection represents an opportunity for Bellinzona residents to influence the city’s social policies. If you believe that a public daycare centre is the best solution for the future of local families, do not miss the chance to sign the initiative and share it with friends and colleagues.

Source: rsi.ch