Budget proposals start to roll in

With budget day drawing near, both Alternattiva Demokratika and the GWU have presented their own budget proposals.

AD is making 20 proposals which "promote sustainable development aimed at strengthening social justice in our country." The proposals include increasing the tax-free income tax ceiling both for single persons and for couples; penalising economic activities which lead to pollution; removing VAT from environment friendly items; placing a land speculation tax on vacant property owners; increasing funds to aid farmers; establishing a pension fund; increasing government-run shelters for victims of domestic violence; subsidised or free respite care services for the parents of disabled persons and the provision of an emergency package to enhance Malta as a safe destination for tourists.
Meanwhile, the General Workers Union based its proposals on various issues. Main proposals include the increase of salaried income which should be based on the Household Budgetary Survey; the re-shuffling of the pension system to ensure there are no anomalies in the system; the safeguarding of the principle of free healthcare services for all, which proposal was presented as a direct reaction to the consultation documents presented by the government; the unacceptability of the vast privatisation campaign; the liberalisation of fuel prices and the impact this will have on electricity bills and the need of fair and just competition.

This year’s budget will be presented to the public on 21 November 2001.