What services can be paid for in cash in Graubünden?

According to the decision of the Grand Council of 13 November 2024, citizens will be able to use cash for the payment of cantonal and municipal taxes, as well as to take advantage of public infrastructure such as parking and transport. The obligation of acceptance concerns public companies or companies co-financed by the State, while it is not extended to transactions in the private sector, where contractual freedom exists between suppliers and private customers.

Are there exceptions to the obligation to accept banknotes?

Yes, the legislation provides for specific exceptions for reasons of operator safety, protection against abuse or technical impossibility. For example, if the adaptation of existing automated systems entails disproportionate costs or if they are not technically prepared to handle coins and banknotes, the public body may legitimately refuse the physical payment. The criterion of "reasonableness" that will define the discretion of individual offices in applying these operational exceptions remains debated.

How many signatures did the popular cash initiative collect?

The popular initiative called "Cash Payment of Public Services" has collected over 16,000 signatures, far exceeding the required quorum of 4,000 subscriptions. The movement was born in response to the abolition of direct cash ticket sales on PostBus buses. Despite the approval of the parliamentary counterproject with 83 votes in favour, the initiative could still reach the popular vote if the promoters decided not to withdraw it despite the political compromise reached.

Graubünden: guaranteed cash payment for services (cross-border guide)

Di Redazione Frontaliere Ticino · Published on 29 August 2026

The Grand Council of Graubünden during a legislative session in Chur.

The Grand Council approves the Bettinaglio counter-project: taxes and transport in Graubünden can be paid in cash, despite digitalisation.

Context

In brief

Guaranteed cash payment for taxes and public services in Graubünden.
The Bettinaglio counter-project approved with 83 votes in favor.
The popular initiative has already collected over 16,000 signatures in the Canton.
Exceptions provided for security reasons or technical impossibility.

Key facts

What: Parliamentary resolution for the use of cash in public services
When: Grand Council decision of November 13, 2024
Where: Canton of Graubünden (Chur)
Who: Graubünden Grand Council, SVP, Martin Bettinaglio (The Centre)
Amount: 16,000 signatures collected (4,000 quorum required)

The Grand Council of Graubünden has established a principle that directly affects the daily lives of residents and taxpayers: the possibility of paying in cash for cantonal and municipal taxes, as well as for the use of public infrastructure, must be guaranteed. The decision, reached today in the chamber, represents a regulatory anticipation of what is requested by a popular initiative currently following its path towards a vote. The parliamentary debate concluded with a clear majority in favor of the counter-project presented by Grand Councilor Martin Bettinaglio, a representative of The Centre, which received 83 votes in favor, compared to 30 against and four abstentions.

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Operational details

The popular initiative and the case of direct sales

The political ferment surrounding physical money in Grisons did not emerge in a vacuum, but is the result of a significant popular mobilization called 'Cash payment of public services', also defined by its promoters as the 'Initiative against discrimination'. The committee, led by retiree Berta Caminada, gave voice to a widespread discontent resulting from operational decisions made by entities such as PostBus and the Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Mobility. The spark was the abolition of direct cash ticket sales by onboard staff on buses, a measure that prompted Caminada to first launch a petition, which gathered 8,000 signatures, and then the initiative itself.

The numbers from the signature collection, cited during the debate by the president of the SVP parliamentary group Stefan Metzger, describe massive support: since June, over 16,000 signatures have been filed, a figure four times higher than the 4,000 required to bring the issue to a popular vote. The orientation of the initiative is very similar to that of the counter-project just approved by Parliament, calling for cash to remain a valid means of payment for taxes, public parking, and even access to public toilets. It is essential to note that the obligation to accept would not be extended to private sector companies, limiting the scope of action only to public or state-co-financed companies. This aspect is crucial for those who must evaluate their cost of living and daily expense management methods in the Canton, as it guarantees a plurality of options for mandatory payments to the public entity.

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Key points

Procedures and impact for residents

For citizens residing in Grisons, the Grand Council's resolution opens a transitional phase in the management of financial relations with the State. Once implemented, the legislation will allow visiting municipal or cantonal counters to pay taxes without necessarily having credit cards or banking applications. The procedure for paying taxes, which usually occurs via payment slips, must therefore maintain channels that allow the use of cash, facilitating segments of the population less accustomed to technology or those who prefer not to digitally track every transaction. Also for the use of infrastructure, such as public parking, municipalities will have to evaluate whether current systems respect the criterion of reasonableness in accepting physical money.

The next steps include:

Integration of the cash principle into cantonal and municipal legal bases.
Technical evaluation of ticket vending machines for public transport and parking meters.
Possible popular vote on the initiative, should the promoters decide not to withdraw it despite the approval of the counter-project.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What services can be paid for in cash in Graubünden?: According to the decision of the Grand Council of 13 November 2024, citizens will be able to use cash for the payment of cantonal and municipal taxes, as well as to take advantage of public infrastructure such as parking and transport. The obligation of acceptance concerns public companies or companies co-financed by the State, while it is not extended to transactions in the private sector, where contractual freedom exists between suppliers and private customers.
Are there exceptions to the obligation to accept banknotes?: Yes, the legislation provides for specific exceptions for reasons of operator safety, protection against abuse or technical impossibility. For example, if the adaptation of existing automated systems entails disproportionate costs or if they are not technically prepared to handle coins and banknotes, the public body may legitimately refuse the physical payment. The criterion of "reasonableness" that will define the discretion of individual offices in applying these operational exceptio
How many signatures did the popular cash initiative collect?: The popular initiative called "Cash Payment of Public Services" has collected over 16,000 signatures, far exceeding the required quorum of 4,000 subscriptions. The movement was born in response to the abolition of direct cash ticket sales on PostBus buses. Despite the approval of the parliamentary counterproject with 83 votes in favour, the initiative could still reach the popular vote if the promoters decided not to withdraw it despite the political compromise reached.