State Budget 2018 Gives Pay Rise to State Workers, Tax Rates Remain Unchanged

The state budget plan for next year envisages pay rise of state workers and keeping the same level of tax rates. The chairperson of the Budget Committee in Parliament Menda Stoyanova said for BNT morning programme the Day Begins on 30^th of August that the revenues were more than planned. According to her, there is an increase by nearly 7% in the second quarter, which makes it possible to invest additional funds in education, defence and culture.

Taxes will not be increased next year, Menda Stoyanova said. It is not known what the amount of garbage tax will be, because this autumn the Local Taxes and Fees Act will set out a new way of determining the collection fee.

Investments are envisaged for both the Ministry of the Interior and the Defence, mainly for equipment and possibly for salary increase.

Menda Stoyanova specified that higher salaries are aalso planned for social workers as well as those working in the field of culture, not only in theaters but also in museums and libraries.

During the new political season there will be a serious debate on the topic of local taxes and charges, changes to the Criminal Code, etc, Stoyanova added.