The city of Bern is engaged in a heated debate over its 2025 budget, which proposes a deficit of 28 million Swiss francs within a total budget of 1.4 billion francs. The left-leaning coalition advocates for continued investments in infrastructure, climate protection, and social security, citing significant financial reserves. Conversely, opposition parties criticize the budget, calling for a shift from what they term a ‘financially misguided’ approach, pointing out inefficiencies in IT projects and excessive costs in housing initiatives.