The draft decisions on local taxes and the approval of a new tax that is levied from owners of vehicles registered in Chisinau municipality were withdrawn from the agenda of the May 15 meeting of the Municipal Council by the mayor, at the suggestion of a number of councilors, Info-Prim Neo reports. The Communist councilors asked that the draft decisions on taxes be excluded because they must be reexamined by the competent commissions. They also referred to the market tax, saying the amendments are discriminatory and contain tricks. The Liberal-Democratic councilors also asked that the two draft decisions be sent back to the commissions for reexamination. “A common viewpoint should be formulated until the next meeting,” said Sergiu Palihovici. Mayor of Chisinau Dorin Chirtoaca said a part of the councilors who proposed excluding the draft decisions approved them within the commissions, but in the meeting asked withdrawing them. According to him, these draft decisions represent important reforms for the municipality. A series of local taxes are to be modified and new taxes are to be introduced for collecting about 200 million lei annually into the budget for investments in roads, water pipes, transport, etc. Under one of the draft decisions, the tax levied from owners of vehicles registered in Chisinau will be doubled from 400 lei to 800 lei – 400 lei will be paid into the National Road Fund and 400 lei into the Local Road Fund. A sum of 80 million lei will be collected into the municipal budget if this tax is doubled. The draft decision on local taxes modifies the method of taxing the markets. The markets will no longer pay taxes of 20% of the revenues, but will pay for every square meter. The move is aimed at combating tax evasion as the companies do not declare the real incomes earned. Also, every company will pay for a square meter of billboard, not for a square meter of advertisement, while the owners of kiosks will pay a monthly tax of 300 to 500 lei.