The Council of Ministers approved on Tuesday a bill tabled by the Ministry of the Interior to pave the way for the restructuring of the Local Authorities in the coming decades.
In statements to the press, Interior Minister Socratis Hasikos said this is an issue which has concerned the Republic for years, it has been addressed by the Troika (Cyprus’ international lenders) and now it will be debated at the House of Representatives.
Hasikos noted that the issue was part of discussions with all political parties and other interested parties for two years now, adding that the necessary consensus has been reached. He expressed hope that the bill will be approved by the parliament before the end of the year.
He said the approval of the bill will mean more savings and that all services for the citizens will concentrate in one place.
The minister noted that the Council also approved a single taxation, to avoid double taxation from the Local Authorities and the central state.
He added that the money to be collected for the immovable property taxation, estimated at over 100 million euro, will form the basis for the Local Authorities autonomy.
Responding to a question, Hasikos said that “the number of the municipalities and the community councils will not be reduced,” however the number of the members of their councils will be reduced.