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Hanover (dpa / lni) - Despite the reform of the road development contributions one and a half years ago in Lower Saxony, the FDP is again mobilizing against the fee that municipalities can collect from residents for road renovations.
FDP parliamentary group leader Stefan Birkner received a petition against the contributions with 7,500 signatures in front of the state parliament in Hanover on Thursday, organized by FDP regional politician André Grote.
The goal is to get the controversial contributions back on the agenda in the state parliament, according to Grote.
It is fairer to finance the road works from taxes that every citizen has to pay according to his financial strength instead of via fees that affect every resident regardless of his financial situation.
FDP parliamentary group leader Birkner pleaded for the municipalities to delete the basis of authorization to collect the contributions and instead to allow them a financial compensation of 50 million euros.
After a controversial debate, the state parliament decided at the end of 2019 to amend the Municipal Tax Act, which gives the municipalities more leeway in the form of contribution collection and assessment.
As many called for, the contributions were not abolished, not all municipalities levy them.
The FDP justified its demand for the state parliament to deal with the road development contributions again with the results of a survey by the taxpayers' association.
The taxpayers' association announced last week that only every sixth municipality would allow residents to make contributions after the reform of the law.
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"The half-hearted reforms of the grand coalition turn out to be a huge blow," said the state chairman of the taxpayers' association, Bernhard Zentgraf.
"Our fears that the majority of property owners will not get relief from the reform are confirmed."
Zentgraf again demanded the complete and nationwide elimination of the controversial contributions.
«Local roads are used by everyone.
That is why they have to be financed jointly. "
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210429-99-404371 / 2