Politics · Switzerland · 9 hrs ago
Lütisburg school faces 100,000-franc annual hall bill from 2027
Lütisburg’s primary school in St. Gallen, Switzerland, may pay 100,000 francs a year to use gym halls in neighbouring Bütschwil-Ganterschwil from 2027, up from 4,000 francs.
The higher charges follow the closure and demolition of Lütisburg’s gym in 2025, while objections have held up plans for a replacement.
Bütschwil-Ganterschwil says it will charge 140 francs per hour from 1 January 2027 because the previous fees were well below the halls’ operating costs.
The Lütisburg sports club faces a 60,000-franc annual bill and says it may have to close after six months if it cannot afford the fees.
The club says other halls nearby are already full, making it difficult to find another place to train.
The school plans to negotiate for a compromise, and its president says some lessons could be moved to other municipalities.
The club’s future remains uncertain, while the replacement gym project in Lütisburg is still blocked.
Lütisburg Primary School is set to pay 100,000 francs a year for sports lessons in neighbouring Bütschwil-Ganterschwil from 2027, up from 4,000 francs.
Bütschwil-Ganterschwil will charge 140 francs per hour to users who switched to its halls after Lütisburg’s hall was demolished.
The new rates would also leave Lütisburg’s sports club facing annual hall costs of 60,000 francs, and its president says it may have to dissolve.
Lütisburg’s school president says the school will try to negotiate a compromise.
Bütschwil-Ganterschwil’s mayor says Lütisburg’s lack of a hall resulted from failures, including the absence of a building permit for a replacement when the old hall was demolished.
- Who
- Lütisburg Primary School and Sports Club are affected by the new hall rates set by Bütschwil-Ganterschwil.
- What
- From 2027, the school is set to pay 100,000 francs a year, while the club faces 60,000 francs in annual hall costs.
- When
- The new rates take effect on 1 January 2027.
- Where
- In the sports halls of Bütschwil-Ganterschwil, in the canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland.
- Why
- Lütisburg’s hall was closed and demolished, leaving the school and club to use halls in the neighbouring municipality. Bütschwil-Ganterschwil says previous charges were well below operating costs.
Lütisburg school and sports club
Bütschwil-Ganterschwil municipality
Hall charges
Lütisburg school and sports club
The school says the proposed annual bill of 100,000 francs is a major burden and hopes to negotiate a compromise.
Bütschwil-Ganterschwil municipality
The municipality says the previous charges were well below the halls’ actual operating costs.
Effect on the sports club
Lütisburg school and sports club
The club’s president says it can pay the new rates for only six months before it must dissolve.
Bütschwil-Ganterschwil municipality
The mayor says Lütisburg’s lack of a hall is the result of failures, including demolishing the old hall without a building permit for a replacement.
Lütisburg’s sports hall was closed and demolished in the autumn.
Bütschwil-Ganterschwil announced new hall rates for users who had switched from Lütisburg.
The new rate of 140 francs per hour is due to take effect.
Lütisburg Primary School is expected to pay 100,000 francs a year, up from 4,000 francs.
- School’s annual hall bill from 2027
- 100,000 francs
- Previous school bill
- 4,000 francs a year
- Hourly hall rate from 1 January 2027
- 140 francs
- Sports club’s annual hall costs
- 60,000 francs
- Lütisburg hall
- Closed and demolished in 2025
What people are saying
We will try to negotiate.
We can pay the new rates for half a year, after that we will have to dissolve our sports club.
The situation today, in which Lütisburg has no sports hall of its own, is thus a consequence of failures.
The costs charged so far were significantly below the actual operating costs.