It is Stockholm Finance Citizen Council Irene Svenonius (M) who signed a demand that is sent to the government on Wednesday. She wants to see a relief in the national equalization system, where money is redistributed from richer to poorer regions. She thinks that the state should be responsible for the Stockholmers' payments to the system.
- We have had the biggest outbreak of covid-19, huge costs, huge loss of revenue and we see that the financial impact of covid-19 will land upwards of ten billion for us in two years, says the Financial Region Council to the news agency TT.
- It is unreasonable for us as a single region to carry the entire equalization system on our shoulders when at the same time we have to repay a medical debt and get the economy settled, she says.
"Deeply provocative"The play upsets Västerbotten's regional council Peter Olofsson.
- It's deeply provocative. The government has been clear that the costs of corona should be covered by the state. We will receive compensation for them. The Finance Citizens' Council only takes the chance to keep the debate about cost equalization going, and it sounds like it is only charity money, says Peter Olofsson (S) to SVT.
He emphasizes that it is not just Stockholm that has had increased costs and reduced tax revenue due to the corona pandemic.
- In addition, we already have high taxes, while they have low taxes in Stockholm. She says the state should cover up, but the state is not an endless mine to dig from, says Peter Olofsson.