Val Calanca, Four Municipalities Explore a Structural Merger

Context

TL;DR

• Four municipalities in Ticino explore merger to address sustainability challenges.
• Total population of 1,200 residents across 117 km² faces depopulation and aging issues.
• Merger could reduce administrative costs by up to 20% and improve service quality.
• Public consultations and a popular vote expected by 2026 to decide on the merger.

Key facts

• Municipalities: Buseno, Calanca, Rossa, Santa Maria in Calanca
• Population: Around 1,200 residents across 117 km²
• Cost: Initial cost estimated at around 1 million Swiss francs
• Savings: Potential reduction of up to 20% in administrative costs
• Timeline: Public meetings before the end of the year, popular vote in 2026
• Funding: Partially covered by cantonal and federal funds
• Tax Rate: Current municipal tax rate around 0.75%, potential reduction to 0.65%
• Savings per Taxpayer: Approximately 200 CHF per taxpayer

Val Calanca, four municipalities in the heart of Canton Ticino, are moving toward a significant administrative transformation aimed at strengthening their institutional structure and addressing current sustainability challenges. Buseno, Calanca, Rossa, and Santa Maria in Calanca have initiated a detailed study to evaluate a possible merger, a process that could mark a historic change for this mountain region.

Announced by the daily RSI, the project aims to create a more effective administrative body capable of managing issues related to depopulation, an aging population, and the scarcity of qualified personnel. Currently, these four municipalities have a total population of around 1,200 residents spread over approximately 117 km² — a size that makes it difficult to guarantee quality public services and long-term financial sustainability. For example, Calanca’s population hovers around 300, with a steady decline over the past decade, while Santa Maria, with about 150 residents, faces similar challenges.

The ongoing study, entrusted to a special commission, will analyze all implications of this merger, from administrative to financial aspects, including reorganization costs and potential tax benefits provided by cantonal and federal regulations. For instance, the cantonal law on municipal union reform, enacted in 2018, allows for merging municipalities with an initial cost estimated at around 1 million Swiss francs, partially covered by cantonal and federal funds, with the goal of optimizing services and reducing expenses.

Among the main motivations is the need to strengthen representation and decision-making capacity, especially in relation to relations with Chur, the Graubünden’ capital, and with the Canton of Ticino. The merger could lead to a greater ability to attract resources and investments, as well as facilitate territorial planning and infrastructural project management.

However, there are differing opinions. >The mayor of Castaneda, Attilio Savioni, argues that a broader union with the Val and involving Grono would be strategically preferable, considering the experience of other Ticino municipalities like Lugano and Bellinzona, which have initiated merger processes with estimated savings of 10-15% on management costs.

To move forward, an operational checklist has been drafted: public consultations, cost-benefit analyses, discussions with administrative law experts, planning of integration phases, and transparent communication with residents. According to cantonal regulations, public meetings are scheduled before the end of the year, along with a formal consultation with the Municipal Council, with a popular vote expected in 2026.

The process, however, is not without risks. The primary concern relates to potential loss of local identity and respect for cultural traditions. The final decision will depend on citizens’ consensus, who will weigh the benefits of such a merger against the risks of marginalization and autonomy loss. Only through thorough analysis and active citizen involvement can it be determined whether this reform represents the best solution for the future of the Val Calanca.

Operational details

Val Calanca, four municipalities are exploring a structural merger

The process of municipal mergers in Ticino is increasingly seen as a key strategy to address sustainability and efficiency challenges in public services, especially in rural and low-density areas. The Calanca merger exemplifies this trend, involving the municipalities of Arvigo, Braggio, Roveredo, and Santa Maria in Calanca. These entities aim to pool resources and expertise to improve the quality of public offerings, reduce costs, and enhance their ability to attract investments.

According to cantonal regulations, this operation requires a detailed process: first, public consultations with residents, businesses, and local associations; then impact assessments evaluating social, economic, and environmental effects. The cantonal law, approved in 2018, stipulates that the proposal be submitted to the Cantonal Review Commission, with an estimated timeline of about three years. The current phase, involving community meetings and workshops, will conclude in 2027, with the goal of adopting a shared plan.

“The aim is to create a stronger entity capable of supporting quality services and attracting resources,” states the director of the Department of Finance of Canton Ticino.

To make this strategy concrete, the municipalities need to develop resource management plans, forecast budgets, and integrated development strategies. Preliminary studies indicate that, currently, the four separate municipalities spend about 12 million Swiss francs annually on administration; merging could reduce these costs by up to 20%, optimizing resources and improving service quality, such as social assistance, waste management, and urban planning.

A practical example involves infrastructure management: merging would allow strategic planning over a larger territory and access to cantonal and federal public funds, such as contributions from the Rural Development Plan (which allocated around 50 million francs in 2023) or European cohesion funds, to finance infrastructure investments.

The biggest challenge remains convincing residents that this operation will bring tangible benefits, while avoiding risks of losing local identity and representation. Current regulations, like the law on municipal cooperation (art. 17, law of 2010), require transparency and shared decision-making.

Operational checklist for the merger: - Public consultations and feedback collection - Economic and social impact analyses - Development of a strategic growth plan - Definition of new administrative and territorial structures - Presentation to the Cantonal Review Commission - Planning of funding sources, including European and cantonal funds - Transparent communication with residents and businesses

Comparing practical scenarios, the Calanca merger differs from others in Ticino, such as Bellinzona, which involved investments exceeding 20 million francs during transition but resulted in annual administrative cost savings of around 3 million. The goal is to replicate or surpass these results, ensuring improved service quality and sustainable development capacity for the involved communities.

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Key points

Val Calanca, four municipalities are studying a structural merger

For residents interested in the potential merger of Calanca, Rossa, Arvigo, and Braggio, it is essential to follow some practical steps to participate actively in the decision-making process and assess personal and collective implications. The ongoing study could lead to a significant administrative reform with concrete impacts on taxes, social services, and local representation.

First, residents are encouraged to attend scheduled public meetings before year’s end, which will take place at the four municipalities’ venues and online, aiming to inform and involve citizens. For example, in 2022, the Federal Statistical Office estimated that merging municipalities in Ticino could lead to savings of up to 15% on administrative costs, as seen in the case of Biasca-Bassano, with an estimated annual saving of about 1.2 million CHF. It is important to evaluate how such savings might influence local budgets and services like schools, healthcare, and infrastructure.

Second, residents should regularly consult official updates published on the websites of the Municipality of Calanca and the Canton of Ticino, which provide data, impact analyses, and study documents, including the relevant cantonal legislation like the territorial reorganization law (art. 13, effective January 2023), and information on incentives or development funds such as the Cantonal Fund for Territorial Cohesion Promotion, which allocated 5 million CHF in 2023 for territorial integration projects.

“Active citizen participation is crucial for the success of this transformation,” states the Ticino Council of State.

Additionally, residents should consider practical impacts, such as changes in tax rates: for example, Calanca’s current municipal tax rate is around 0.75% on income, while a merger could lower it to about 0.65%, saving an average of approximately 200 CHF per taxpayer. Similarly, potential modifications in social services and infrastructure—such as enhanced telecommunications networks or expanded school facilities—could benefit from dedicated funds.

For an in-depth assessment, tools like the cost-benefit calculator available on the Canton’s website are recommended. These tools allow residents to compare different scenarios, such as merging with an estimated annual saving of 1.5 million CHF versus maintaining the current setup, and to evaluate how benefits are distributed among citizens.

Transparency and engagement are key to ensuring a shared and lasting outcome.

For those seeking more detailed information, official sources from the Municipality of Calanca and the Cantonal Commission provide insights, data, and updates, with scheduled public meetings in 2023 to showcase advantages and address citizens’ questions. Ultimately, the final decision will rest with the cantonal Parliament, based on the proposals and opinions gathered during the study and consultation phases, with possible adjustments to merger plans based on feedback received.

Source: rsi.ch