SK8: This Year's Developments in Financing Self-governing Regions Not Positive

Martin, March 20 (TASR) - Developments in this year's funding of self-governing regions since the beginning of the year haven't been positive, chairman of the Self-governing Regions Association (SK8) Jozef Viskupic told a press briefing on Thursday following a SK8 meeting in Martin (Zilina region). Viskupic and his colleagues agreed on a common stance in negotiations with the Finance Ministry on bridging the financial problems that the self-governing regions are facing, especially in the month of May. "In our discussions with the Finance Ministry, we've pointed out that developments in terms of shared tax collected have been declining when compared to last year. In May, the amount of tax collected is set to be so low that the municipalities would receive almost nothing," pointed out the SK8 head. Therefore, the association of self-governing regions is holding talks with the Finance Ministry on the payment of at least part of the funds in May, which would be compensated for by tax collected in the second half of the year. "This will ensure, in particular, that we won't have to reach the bottom of our strength in terms of cash flows," said Viskupic. am/df