On Thursday, the Pärnu City Council will hold the second reading of the parking fee increase bill, which, if passed, will increase the tax burden on both local residents and city visitors. Having observed the sessions of the Riigikogu and the speeches of the leading politicians of the Motherland, who sharply criticize the tax increase and the introduction of new taxes, it is extremely unfortunate that the city of Pärnu is acting in the opposite direction.
The behavior of the Isamaa faction, which does not stand against raising parking fees, makes it particularly unpopular. Among them, Pärnu City Council chairman Andres Metsoja also acts in a two-faced way, who while in the parliament unequivocally condemns the increase in the tax burden planned by the Reform Party government, but keeps a low profile on this issue in his hometown council. It is said that silence is consent. Is Isamaa really pursuing one policy in Toompea and another in Pärnu?
In a situation where the Estonian economy has declined for six quarters in a row and the tax burden on our people will increase significantly in the following years, the Center Party faction of the Pärnu City Council is against raising parking fees. At the same time, we understand that since it is impossible to expect such a large response from today’s coalition, which in addition to Fatherland also includes the Reform Party and Mayor Romek Kosenkranius’ electoral alliance, we have made our own compromise proposals that will not lead to such a large increase in the tax burden.
The city administration’s cynical attitude is particularly vividly shown by the fact that if free parking is provided for officials, for example, a teacher going to work from outside the city of Pärnu has to purchase an annual parking permit costing 850 euros with his own money. In the city of Pärnu, the problem of car ownership is not so big that, referring to it, the parking fee in some areas has to be increased multiple times.
I invite the Isamaa representatives in the Pärnu council to vote according to their conscience on the issue of raising parking fees, and not to contribute to the intention of the Reform Party and Romek Kosenkranius’ electoral alliance to further increase people’s tax burden in an already difficult economic situation.
with respect
Avo Keel
Chairman of the Pärnumaa region of the Estonian Center Party
