OREANDA-NEWS. January 20, 2014. The local budgets can lose about 100-200 million lei due to limitation of rates and abolition of some local taxes - the Union of cities of Moldova (UNOM). During the press conference UNOM representatives stated that limitation of rates and abolition of some local taxes is a direct attack on the local democracy and these measures are taken against local autonomy and the authorities of cities, in particular.

The Union representatives noted that in the result of the amendments the local budgets can lose up to 200 million lei. So, Cahul budget will lose approximately 6.2 million lei, Balti -10 million, Soroca - 1 million lei.

These funds should have been allocated for the provision of social assistance to the citizens of the city and holding a number of cultural and sport events. UNOM representatives noted that most of the settlements of the country will not receive planned revenue, the budgets of cities and municipalities will face bankruptcy, and local administrations will have no funds required for the provision of quality services for cleaning and lighting the streets, normal functioning of state institutions, etc.

UNOM members consider that the amendments on limitation of rates of the local taxes were adopted in conditions of full lack of transparency, without public debates, with serious violations of the legislative process and called outrageous the fact that the documents have not undergone anti-corruption expertise. UNOM plans to attract public and international organizations’ attention to the intentional disregard of the interests and serious violation of the local authorities’ rights in Moldova and demanded abolition of the adopted amendments.