The mayor of Tartu, who also acts as the chairman of the Association of Estonian Cities, said Kiisler was the biggest obstacle to reform. (Photo courtesy of the city of Tartu).
"A person who does not understand the essence of localself-government and compares it with a subordinateinstitution of a ministry is not fit to serve as minister ofregional affairs and capable of implementing administrativereform. That's why he himself has become the biggestobstacle to reform," Kruuse said.
Presently the part of the income tax transferred intothe budgets of self-governments stands at 11.93 percent of aperson's gross pay. Under the planned budget cuts this willbe reduced to 11.1 percent, which is less than in the 1990s.
Slashing the main source of self-governments'income, the personal income tax, is a clear sign thatKiisler has failed to realize during his time in office whatregional policy is and how important a role localself-governments play, Kruuse said.
"Even though it is understandable that in the presenteconomic conditions cuts affect all areas and levels ofgovernance, an axe job on self-governments' income isinconceivable," Kruuse said.
"The minister has theresponsibility to explain to the government the importanceof the personal income tax to local governments. If he failsin this, the question arises whether we need this positionat all," he said.
The mayor suggested the minister read again the European charter of local self-government, which establishesthe principles of both local autonomy and subsidiarityaccording to which all decisions should be made as closelyto citizens as possible.
"It is therefore essential for us to retain a source ofincome free from political wrangling," Kruuse said.
"Localself-government must not be at the mercy of a ministerwithout portfolio."
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