Kahlon: New budget will address high costs of living
Kahlon's introduction of new biennial budget met by protests staged by disgruntled northern residents and authorities bemoaning its alleged failure to develop the region.
The outlining of the budget was met with a demonstration staged by the country’s northern authorities and heads of regional councils in protest of the fact that the new budget fails to include the financial blueprints for developing northern towns.
“It isn’t easy, and I see the protests, but we have to do something to lower the costs of living. At its core, the budget includes additional funds for social offices. We reduced income tax from low salaries and for the middle classes but not for people with high incomes,” Kahlon said.
Several protesters began screaming at Kahlon at the meeting before being removed from the hall by security guards.
MK Moshe Gafni (United Torah Judaism), who chaired the committee, opened the session by praising the government’s economic policies. “The Israeli economy is strong, the economic policies have proved themselves, with a high credit rating, high growth and low unemployment rates even though a large proportion of the budget is allocated to security needs,” Gafni said.
“Despite the fact that there are burning problems and things that need addressing, the positive things have to first be taken into account. The standard of living is higher,” he noted.
On the subject of property and its known soaring prices, particularly in central areas, Gafni promised that tackling the problem remained a central goal. “We still aren't seeing a decline in the price of housing: this is a critical issue—that young couples have a roof over their heads.”
Kahlon told his listeners that it was his responsibility to guard the public funds and designate the appropriate sums for the betterment of Israel’s citizens.
“The budget for the coming two years is intended to continue the growth and to increase public spending. We are addressing the costs of living by, among other things, lowering import tax,” he said.
Turning to the protests by the north’s residents, Kahlon said, “we are providing assistance in the northern business sector for infrastructural development and increasing school classes. I will meet with more ministers to consolidate the strategic program for the area.”
