Little foretastes of the coming national budget continue to land on the proverbial palate. Like it or not. Besides the Green Party’s “free year” and the Left Party’s bank tax, the Center Party has apparently finagled a rural tax reduction (). Almost everyone living in Norrland, Dalarna, parts of Värmland and parts of Dalsland will be able to write a bit off of their taxes because they live in a low population area, or, as they’re known in official-speak “support area A and B” (stödområden).
“It’s all about being fair, and reducing the tax difference between city and country” said Annie Lööf, Center Party leader. She also motivated the tax reduction by noting that country residents often pay some of the highest local municipality taxes but generally receive fewer services (read: a health clinic or dentist in the area, or a local unemployment office) in return.
About 830,000 people are eligible for the rebate, to the tune of about 140 kronor a month, per person. On a national level, the reduced tax is expected to cost about 2.2 billion kronor ().
Although it works out to about 1650 kronor a year, there won’t be much to it if the gas tax is raised, as is expected to happen. Living in the country means needing a vehicle, especially when the state’s services are few and far between. The tax reduction might then cover the cost of filling the tank a time or two. Only voters can decide if the trade off is a fair one.