The 2020 budget will be a solidarity budget. This means that salaries and social benefits will increase for most public employees and for people with the lowest incomes. The statement was made by the Minister of Finance, Natalia Gavrilița, during a meeting with the heads of finance departments of the local public administration.
According to the minister, raising salaries for public employees is a priority of the current government. "Increasing the incomes of the population is a government priority and, as long as we have an increase in productivity and budget revenue, we are determined to continue raising wages", said Natalia Gavrilița, quoted in a Ministry of Finance press release.
The Solidarity Budget bill foresees a 6 - 10% increase of wages for most public employees. Some public employees such as mayors, principals and deputy principals of schools, librarians, cooks, firefighters and military personnel, will have salary increases ranging from 400 to 2500 lei.
Additionally, the draft budget for 2020 provides for greater local financial autonomy by increasing the deductions from the income tax of natural persons. Thus, if so far rural communities received 75% of the income tax of individuals, starting next year they will receive 100%, while cities and municipalities – 50%.
Moreover, social assistance programs will be extended. In this respect, the amount of aid offered during the cold period of the year will increase from 350 to 500 lei. Also, a new electricity payment support program for low-income pensioners will be implemented.
