According to the press release of the Municipality of Kos, as reported by COSTODAY, the preparation of the proposal to be submitted by the municipal authority to the City Council has been completed, for next year's municipal rates.
The municipal authority is proposing large reductions in municipal fees, arriving at 50%, with the aim of support households, businesses and the local economy as a whole, which has been hit by the pandemic and the economic crisis.
«For the elaboration of the proposal, the possibilities of the Municipality, the need to support our compatriots and the coverage of the great needs in cleaning and lighting were taken into account».
The municipality estimates that, with fairness, good governance and productive use of all resources, it can proceed to a drastic reduction of fees for 2021, to support the economy of the island, not to compromise the level of service to the citizens and to proceed with the modernisation programme of the cleaning service.
In detail it is proposed to:
1. Reduction of 50% in the electric lighting fees for the houses in the Municipal Unit of Kos and a corresponding reduction of 45,6% in the houses of the Municipal Units of Dikaou and Irakleidon, in order to apply a uniform rate for residential properties throughout the island. In this way, the single fee is now reduced to € 0.50 per square metre. That is, a house of 100 sq.m. that this year pays 105 € in the District of Kos and 92 € in the Districts of Dikaou & Irakleidon, next year will pay 50 €, throughout the island.
2. A 20% reduction in electric lighting fees for all businesses operating on our island.
3. Exemption from the electric lighting fees for public utilities.
4. 50% reduction in the common area fee. It is considered to be a necessary reduction to support catering businesses and the tourism economy.
5. Reduction 50% in irrigation fees, to support the primary sector.
6. Reduction 20% in slaughterhouse user fees, to support the farmers of our island.
7. In addition to these it also includes families with three children to the fee reduction scheme for vulnerable groups, with an annual family income of up to 12.000€.
It is also worth noting that the Municipality of Kos continues to apply the same scheme for additional reduction of fees to vulnerable groups, such as the needy, large families, disabled persons, as determined by the legislation, depending on the category they belong to and their family income.
Given the will of the municipal authority to use all available resources, Mayor Theodosis Nikitaras said:
«From the very first moment the pandemic emerged, we as a municipal authority assessed that we had to prioritize, first of all, the safeguarding of the health of all of us and then the support of our fellow citizens and the economy of our island, which are brutally affected by the unprecedented pandemic.
I would like to think that on the health side we did well.
We support financially, as a Municipality, the attraction of doctors to our hospital by providing a monthly housing allowance, we continue to demand its reinforcement in terms of infrastructure and human resources and the construction of a new hospital.
At the same time, we have studied and are bringing a comprehensive proposal, according to the capabilities of our Municipality, to support our compatriots and the local economy.
Our island, despite the health crisis, attracted this year about 320,000 tourists. As the Municipality of Kos, we demand that the reduced VAT should not be abolished, we reduce the fees and we develop actions at all levels.
With unity of forces, without bickering and inexpensive conflicts, I believe we will succeed. I am optimistic!»
