PS: Local Authorities Will Suffer for Consolidation, Halting Their Development

Bratislava, 18 September (TASR) - The third wave of consolidation will affect everyone in Slovakia, and even those who aren't sole traders or don't have high incomes will feel it through the problems that it will cause for local authorities, as their services will become more expensive and they won't have money to invest in their own development, stated representatives of the opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) party at a press conference in Parliament on Thursday. The year 2026 will be even more difficult than the previous ones because all three waves of consolidation will meet in it, emphasised MP Marek Lackovic. "This also applies to the budgets of our municipalities, towns and regions. By 2026, they will have reduced revenues from income tax reaching more than €60 million, another more than €180 million, according to estimates, via increased VAT, and another €100 million in the form of the so-called parental pensions, which will start next year," he said. According to him, they will lose another €137 million by a reduction in their share of income tax revenues. "The state will cut almost half a billion from the budgets of local authorities next year, and this without any discussion with the Slovak Towns and Villages Association, the Slovak Towns Union or the Self-governing regions Association (SK8)," said Lackovic. am/df