Prime Minister Antti Rinne (the SDP) and Finance Minister Mika Lintilä (the Centre) presenting the 2020 budget plan at the House of the Estates in Helsinki on September 17, 2019. Picture: Tony Öhberg for Finland Today
After spending most of the day at the House of the Estates, the government was able to wrap their budget negotiations in one day late on Tuesday evening.
Here we list 10 points of the 2020 budget proposal that could affect our readers.
The end of active employment model
The active employment model is going to get the last nail to its coffin. The model will be canceled on January 1, 2020. More about the model here (for Premium subscribers).
Students
Students with underaged children will receive an increase of 25 euros to their student grant.
Single parents
The child benefit for single parents will be increased by 10 euros a month.
Higher education
Institutes of higher education will receive an increase in basic funding worth 60 million euros.
Katri Kulmuni, the minister of economic affair (the Centre), Mari Ohisalo, the minister of the interior (The Green League), Anna-Maja Henriksson, the minister of the justice (the SPP), listening to Finance Minister Lintilä’s presentation. Picture: Tony Öhberg for Finland Today
Refugee quota
The refugee quota will be increased by 100 persons in a year. Currently, the quota is 750 refugees a year.
Pensioners
There will be an increase in pensions. The lower the pension, the bigger the increase. For example, a monthly pension lower than 1,000 euros will receive an increase of 31 to 50 euros net in a month.
Fuel taxes
Fuel taxes of motor vehicles will be raised by 250 million euros. According to the calculations of Taxpayers Association of Finland, the prices of gasoline and diesel are going to increase 6.5 cents per liter.
Domestic help
The tax credit for domestic help will be lowered from 2,400 euros to 2,250 euros. The tax credit for domestic help is a tax deduction scheme whereby the householder pays remuneration to a formal private sector company for services such as cleaning or home repairs, or for the care of an elderly person or a child in the home.
Tobacco and soft drinks
Tobacco taxes will be raised by 50 million euros. The taxes for soft drinks will be increased by 25 million euros. According to the calculations of Taxpayers Association of Finland, the price of a package of cigarettes will be increased by 1.80 euros; one and a half-liter bottle of soft drink will cost about 10 cents more.
Business subsidies
The business subsidies regarding products that are harmful to environment and climate will be cut significantly.
The government is aiming to boost businesses by increasing the subsidies of the public funding agency, Business Finland, by 33 million euros in 2020-2022 and by 43 million euros in 2023. The idea is to motivate companies to create innovations and new businesses.
