Bellinzona: signature collection launched for public daycare centres
The Municipality rejects the request for a public daycare centre. The Socialist Party, Greens and other political forces launch the initiative ‘More public daycare centres’ with a target of 3,000 signatures to be collected by July 2026.
Contesto
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: u...
Dettagli operativi
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...
Punti chiave
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 ba...
Punti chiave
[{"q":"Which parties support the initiative?","a":"The initiative is backed by the Socialist Party, Forum Alternativo, Greens, Più Donne, Avanti, Noce, and the Communist Party. It represents a cross-party coalition uniting left-wing and environmental forces."},{"q":"How many signatures are needed to submit the initiative to the Municipality?","a":"3,000 signatures are required, to be collected by mid-July 2026. Once submitted, the Municipality will have 60 days to evaluate the proposal."},{"q":"Is the Municipality of Bellinzona opposing the initiative?","a":"It is not opposing it outright, but it proposes an alternative approach: strengthening collaboration with existing private associations to increase capacity to around 300 places, without establishing a public structure."},{"q":"How much does a spot in a private daycare in Bellinzona currently cost?","a":"Average full-time fees range between 1,200 and 1,400 francs per month. The rates are not income-based, which disadvantages lower-income families."},{"q":"What happens if the initiative is accepted by the Municipality?","a":"The Municipality will launch a feasibility study to identify the location and funding for the new public daycare. The process could take several months."}]
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which parties support the initiative?
- The initiative is backed by the Socialist Party, Forum Alternativo, Greens, Più Donne, Avanti, Noce, and the Communist Party. It represents a cross-party coalition uniting left-wing and environmental forces.
- How many signatures are needed to submit the initiative to the Municipality?
- 3,000 signatures are required, to be collected by mid-July 2026. Once submitted, the Municipality will have 60 days to evaluate the proposal.
- Is the Municipality of Bellinzona opposing the initiative?
- It is not opposing it outright, but it proposes an alternative approach: strengthening collaboration with existing private associations to increase capacity to around 300 places, without establishing a public structure.
- How much does a spot in a private daycare in Bellinzona currently cost?
- Average full-time fees range between 1,200 and 1,400 francs per month. The rates are not income-based, which disadvantages lower-income families.
- What happens if the initiative is accepted by the Municipality?
- The Municipality will launch a feasibility study to identify the location and funding for the new public daycare. The process could take several months.