Does the counterproject approved in Graubünden completely prohibit digital payments?

No, the counterproject does not prohibit digital payments. It guarantees the right to pay in cash for taxes, services and public infrastructure, but digital methods remain available and are not necessarily excluded, except for specific exceptions.

Who promoted the initiative for the maintenance of cash in Graubünden?

The cantonal initiative "Cash Payment of Public Services", also referred to as the "Anti-Discrimination Initiative", was launched by a committee led by pensioner Berta Caminada. The CDU actively supported the collection of signatures.

What types of utilities will be affected by maintaining cash payment?

The public services concerned include the payment of cantonal or municipal taxes, public services and infrastructure. Concrete examples mentioned are the use of buses, public car parks and public toilets.

Will there be exceptions to the cash payment rule?

Yes, the counter-project provides for exceptions if the cash payment offer is unreasonable or prevented for overriding reasons of security, protection against abuse or technical impossibility. The definition of “reasonable” may be subject to interpretation.

Cash in Graubünden: OK to the counterproject (cross-border guide)

Di Redazione Frontaliere Ticino · Published on 29 August 2026

Graubünden parliament discusses maintaining cash payments for public services in Chur.

The Grison Parliament approves a counter-project that guarantees payment in cash for taxes and public services, anticipating a popular initiative.

Context

In a nutshell

The Grison Parliament keeps the cash for public services.
Approved counterproject that anticipates popular initiative.
Exceptions only for safety or technical reasons.

Key facts

What: Counter-project approval on cash payment.
When: Today (date not specified in the source).
Where: Grayish Parliament, Chur.
Who: Grisonese Parliament, Martin Bettinaglio (Centre), UDC, PLR.
Amount: 83 votes in favour, 30 against, 4 abstentions.

The Grison Parliament today passed a resolution in favour of maintaining the cash payment for cantonal and municipal taxes, services and use of public infrastructure. This decision anticipates one of the central demands of a popular initiative on the subject, demonstrating the political will to meet the demands of citizens who prefer the use of physical money. The resolution, approved by a clear majority of 83 votes in favour to 30 against with 4 abstentions, is the result of a counter-proposal presented by Grand Councillor Martin Bettinaglio of the Centre party. This counterproject received the necessary support in the classroom, attenuating the initial proposals and finding a compromise between the different political forces present. The cantonal initiative, also promoted with the slogan "Initiative against discrimination", aims to guarantee the possibility of paying in cash to public bodies co-financed by the State. Exceptions to this

Operational details

Political and social implications

The decision of the Grison Parliament to approve a counter-project that safeguards the cash payment for public services is part of a broader debate at national and international level regarding the role of cash in the modern economy. Although the digitization of payments offers undoubted benefits in terms of efficiency and traceability, it also raises concerns regarding financial inclusion, privacy protection, and the potential exclusion of vulnerable categories of the population, such as the elderly, people with disabilities, or individuals with limited access to digital banking services. The cantonal initiative, which prompted Parliament to act, was also promoted with the slogan "Anti-Discrimination Initiative", underlining how the progressive elimination of cash can create new forms of inequality. Martin Bettinaglio's counterproject, while accepting the basic request, introduces exceptions related to reasonableness, safety and technical impossibility, leaving a certain margin of discretion in the application. This nuance has been criticised by the PLR, which has raised doubts about the ambiguity of the term 'reasonable', fearing that it may lead to restrictive interpretations. The collection of more than 16,000 signatures by the UDC for the popular initiative, compared to the 4,000 needed, testifies to strong support

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Key points

What to do and what to expect

With the approval of the counterproject by the Grison Parliament, a new phase opens in the management of payments for public services in the canton. Citizens residing in Graubünden will be able to continue to use cash to pay cantonal and municipal taxes, benefits and the use of public infrastructure such as buses, parking and toilets. This means that, except for exceptions motivated by prevailing reasons of security, protection against abuse or technical impossibility, public administrations and companies co-financed by the State must guarantee the possibility of making payments in physical currency. It is important to underline that this provision mainly concerns public services and does not impose obligations on private companies, which will retain the right to decide which payment methods to accept. The popular initiative “Cash payment of public services”, which stimulated this parliamentary decision, collected a significant number of signatures, far exceeding the necessary quorum. This data indicates a strong and widespread popular will in favor of maintaining cash. Those wishing to learn more about the implications of this legislation or to check whether they fall into the categories concerned can consult the official websites of the Canton of Graubünden or the information portals dedicated to consumer rights and payment regulations.

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Source: tio.ch

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the counterproject approved in Graubünden completely prohibit digital payments?: No, the counterproject does not prohibit digital payments. It guarantees the right to pay in cash for taxes, services and public infrastructure, but digital methods remain available and are not necessarily excluded, except for specific exceptions.
Who promoted the initiative for the maintenance of cash in Graubünden?: The cantonal initiative "Cash Payment of Public Services", also referred to as the "Anti-Discrimination Initiative", was launched by a committee led by pensioner Berta Caminada. The CDU actively supported the collection of signatures.
What types of utilities will be affected by maintaining cash payment?: The public services concerned include the payment of cantonal or municipal taxes, public services and infrastructure. Concrete examples mentioned are the use of buses, public car parks and public toilets.
Will there be exceptions to the cash payment rule?: Yes, the counter-project provides for exceptions if the cash payment offer is unreasonable or prevented for overriding reasons of security, protection against abuse or technical impossibility. The definition of “reasonable” may be subject to interpretation.