Was there an agreement or not? Depending on who you ask: Sources in the coalition accuse local government chairman Haim Bibas of blatantly violating the agreement on the municipal tax fund after shaking the hand of Finance Director General Shlomi Heisler last Thursday.
Finance Committee agitation: Ramat Gan mayor: "We are under a jihad of decrees" // Photo: Knesset Channel
On Sunday morning, the heads of the local authorities, including Bibas in the Knesset Finance Committee, protested the intention to advance the Arnona Law. According to the Ministry of Finance, the outline is intended to reduce the gaps in municipal property tax revenues between local authorities, by charging strong authorities in order to promote residential construction in the periphery.
The Finance Ministry claims that the local government is exerting pressure on Likud MKs to thwart the move.
Coalition sources accused Bibas of "caving in to pressure from the big authorities." He announced that the local government would go on strike tomorrow if the law was advanced. The shutdown is expected to include municipal services (such as parking tickets and sanitation services, as well as educational frameworks – meaning there will be no kindergarten aides except for special education.
Local government sources responded: "Bibas opposed and fought all along the property tax fund. The agreements were attempts to minimize the damage as much as possible, today in a discussion with the heads of the local authorities it was decided that it is impossible for the fund to pass and we are fighting until it is removed from the agenda."
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