Budget 2009 at a glanceCost of living increase of Euro 4.08 in 2009.
Income tax bands will be revised so that taxpayers will pay some Euro 12 million less income tax in 2009.
Reform of car registration and road licensing system for new cars as from 2009, with new regime based on emissions and length of car providing incentives to buy smaller and more environtally-friendly cars and replace old cars.
Euro 0.03/litre tax on petrol and Euro 0.02/litre tax on diesel to go to a new energy fund to support environmentally-friendly initiatives.
A grant of 15.25% in the purchase of a bicycle.
Euro 0.15 levy on plastic bags when bought from stores.
Euro 0.01 per 80g levy on magazines and printed matter with strong advertorial content.
Vouchers to be redeemed for energy-saving lamps and eco tax on non energy-saving bulbs and tubes.
Fiscal incentives to invest in clean energy sources such as photo-voltaic cells and solar heaters.
Increase in licensing feed on private and commercial swimming pools.
Call for tenders for Euro 130 million wind-farm project and the building of a new power-generation plant at Delimara to replace the Marsa plant which is wasteful.
Euro 0.5 tax on every tourist for every night spent in local accommodation as from 2010.
Increase in excise on alcoholic beverages and drinking age increased from 16 to 17 years.
Euro 0.2 increase in excise on tobacco and cigarettes.
Persons registered as unemployed for more than five years will be required to do community work and will be paid 75% of the minimum wage.
Reform of public transport in Gozo and initiatives to reinforce it as an eco-island.
Fiscal incentives for women to return to work.
Special programme of investment to cater for possibility of slowdown in economy as a result of the international economic situation. This includes Euro 322 million in infrastructural projects, Euro 122 million in environmental projects, Euro 362 million in education and training, Euro 30 million in alternative energy and Euro 64 million in incentives to enterprises and tourism.
Increase in budget of the Malta Tourism Authority for the promotion of Malta.
Privatisation of yacht marinas at Msida, Ta' Xbiex and Gozo and increase in yacht licenses.
Deficit in 2009 will be Euro 98.8 million, higher than previously planned, and the budget will be balanced in 2011 and not in 2010 because of the international situation.
# produced by MaltaMedia News
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