The Progress Party has drawn up a list of 42 municipalities which they claim would have had a surplus on their budget, even without property tax. Among them are the large municipalities of Oslo, Trondheim, Bergen and Stavanger. For those who govern Stavanger today, it is out of the question to remove the property tax, even though the municipality had a surplus of almost NOK one billion last year. – It would have been extremely irresponsible to remove the property tax in Stavanger. This is money that benefits the community, says group leader Dag Mossige (Ap). Dag Mossige, group leader (Ap) in Stavanger thinks it is out of the question to remove the property tax. Photo: Øystein Otterdal / news The municipality takes in over NOK 250 million a year in property tax. – Last year was very good, but it is not every year that we have such good results. We will be making major investments in schools and care for the elderly in the coming years, so we need the money. A total of 322 municipalities have introduced property tax on residences, leisure properties and power plants, according to Statistics Norway. Last year, their combined income was 16 billion. – Using it as a sleeping pillow No proposes the Progress Party to scrap the tax again. – It is an additional tax that is unfair, which we want to do away with because Norwegian municipalities use it as a sleeping pillow. It is not income that they need, says Helge André Njåstad, parliamentary politician for the Frp. Helge André Njåstad, Storting politician (Frp). has made a list of municipalities that he believes would have made a profit, even without property tax. Photo: Erlend Blaalid Oldeide / news He points out that there are many municipalities that do not have property tax, and that they are able to deliver just as good services as those that do. – So it is completely wrong to send the bill to the residents for something they do not need. FRP is quite alone among the political parties in this wish. Why would the FRP override the local freedom of action that the municipalities have to introduce such a tax? – Because we are concerned about people’s finances. People pay far too much in electricity, fuel, interest and food. Need the money Smaller municipalities are also on the list, including Hemsedal. But mayor Pål Terje Rødby (Sp) believes the extra tax money is absolutely necessary. På Terje Rødby, mayor of Hemsedal (Sp) says that the service offer would have been worse in the municipality without property tax. Photo: Caroline Utti / news – If we are to take care of the people who come to us, but also all the ten thousand who visit us, both cottagers and tourists, then we are forced to have this type of income. Otherwise, it will prevent growth, and I would argue that it will also be a danger to life and health. This week, the Easter tourists visited Hemsedal to experience chalk-white mountain expanses, steep skiing and partying and fun. Many ski tourists are a challenge for Hemsedal. Photo: Rolf Erik Møistad / Tip 03030 But for Hemsedal, the increase in population and many visitors is also an economic challenge, explains the centre-party mayor. – We handle 30,000 people who come now. They need medical help, they need home services, and they need the municipality to stand up for them. Can do without 107 municipalities can do without property tax on homes and holiday homes. In Norway’s smallest municipality, they get by without property tax on residences and holiday homes. But it hasn’t always been like that. – In 2013 we introduced property tax because we needed the money, says mayor Marte Eide Klovning from the Labor Party. Marte Eide Klovning, mayor, Utsira (UFL) Photo: Ole Andreas Bø / news The residents had to pay for it for several years before it was removed again. – We promised the residents that when we got other income or saw that we could manage without the property tax, we would remove it again. And we did. The municipality has property tax on works and use. When the Johan Sverdrup field came on stream, they received property tax from a pipeline from this field, something that improved the economy. – It’s about prioritizing – This is a bad tax, because it doesn’t take into account people’s income, assets or tax ability. That’s according to Carsten Henrik Phil, consumer and communications manager at the Landowners’ Association, who believes that the introduction of property tax is approaching a critical limit for most people. Carsten Henrik Phil, Homeowners’ National Association. Photo: Christiane Y. Vibe – Both interest and electricity costs have increased. The same applies to municipal expenses, insurance expenses and maintenance expenses. It becomes too much for people. Phil believes that the municipalities can manage without income from property tax, and points to Sandnes and Drammen. – There is nothing to indicate that the two municipalities have a worse service offer for their residents. It’s about prioritizing. They must learn to cut away what is less important, and be open about why they make the choices they do.
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Frp believes several municipalities would have made a profit even without property tax – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
