Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/885114
3 maltatoday, TUESDAY, 10 OCTOBER 2017 Budget 2018 ROADS AGENCY Creation of new 'roads agency' that will coordinate a massive €700 million road construction project spread over seven years. FREE BUS TRANSPORT FOR THOSE AGED 16-20 Free bus transport for every young citizen from the age of 18, who benefit from a free bus pass, will now be extended to all those aged 16-20 - not just students, but to all workers and young persons, in a bid to improve public transport patronage. GOVERNMENT TO LAUNCH STUDY FOR FREE PUBLIC TRANSPORT FOR ALL SCHOOL-CHILDREN Extension of full 15.25% VAT refund on bicycles and electric bikes, now also extended to all companies that offer these kind of vehicles for rent. A new measure to incentivise the purchase of motor-cycles, The ministry of education will be carrying out a study, and start discussions with all stakeholders, to introduce a system for the free public transportation of all school- children. That means creating a plan so that children of all schools, government, private and Church schools, are grouped for their eventual transportation to schools. The plan is expected to be discussed for introduction for the 2018/19 scholastic year. The measure is intended at alleviating transport chaos due to different school transport schemes and parents opting for private transportation. This might yet be a useful but also controversial proposal for some groups of parents. VAT EXEMPTIONS ON ELECTRIC TRANSPORT AND BICYCLES TRANSPORT AND BICYCLES scooters, and electric-engine bicycles with a maximum €400 grant. Additionally, apart from this grant, electric bikes will retain VAT exemption. A new VAT cut on the rental of bicycles from 18% to 7%. A new concept called 'Share The Road' will introduce two urban corridors, one from Valletta to St Julian's and the other from Mosta to the University of Malta, so that urban streets are improved to facilitate better safety for cyclists and pedestrians. This will involve the introduction of new CCTV systems and the reduction of the maximum speed in these roads, with electronic messages beamed so as to give priority to cyclists. NO REGISTRATION TAX ON ELECTRIC VEHICLES For the first time ever, electric vehicles, as well as hybrids and derivative vehicles with autonomous batteries of less than 80km, will be exempted from any registration tax on acquisition. From 2018, no licence fee will be payable for five years on these vehicles, whilst commercial companies will benefit from a maximum €200,000 if they qualify for state aid rules. In 2018, the government will be issuing new incentives for the purchase of such vehicles and for the equipping of such engines. commercial companies will €200,000 if they qualify for state aid rules. In 2018, the government will be issuing purchase of such vehicles and for the equipping of such GRANT FOR WHEELCHAIR- ACCESSIBLE TAXIS A maximum grant of €10,000 for wheelchair accessible taxis (WATs), which cost more than regular taxis since they have a facility for wheelchairs to be lifted inside the taxi. Only €100,000 will be allocated for this measure. WASTE COLLECTION A pilot project to collect organic waste in a white bag is to start being applied nationwide across Malta and Gozo. Discussions will also be held with the private sector to operate a deposit scheme on beverage containers - both glass and plastic - by 2019, so that consumers recieve a refund when depositing the empty bottles. CREATION OF AMBJENT MALTA A new environmental agency will be set up for the management of natural heritage sites - a sort of superintendence to manage Natura 2000 sites and to ensure that the countryside is rendered more accessible to citizens. Unspecified however, was the increase in littering fines "so as to instil more discipline amongst the Maltese". €10,000 GRANT FOR ADOPTION COSTS From 2018, parents will be entitled to a maximum €10,000 grant to cover costs, including travel expenses, incurred in the process of adoption. This will be granted to those couples who are already in the process of adoption. HIGHER IN- WORK BENEFITS The highest in-work benefit will increase from €350 to €450 for every child, while the lowest increases from €52 to €75 per child. The benefits will be kept even if a second parent enters the labour market, since the highest rate can go up to €1,200 for every child. This measure will ensure that no family with children under 16, where at least one parent is in full-time and on minimum wage, is living in poverty. COMMUNITY WORKER SCHEME In 2018, workers on the Community Worker Scheme will have a monthly €200 increase in their wages. INCREASE IN CARERS' ALLOWANCE An additional €8.15 per week will be paid for any other family member who loses the right to any social benefit if they get a higher allowance. In this case, the family's income and capital, excluding the increased allowance, will be used for means-testing. ORPHANS Increase from €70 to €100 weekly for foster carers. MAINTENANCE Child maintenance will not be added to total income as part of the means test for the pink card medicinals' allowance, which means parents, mainly women, in this situation can still benefit from this state subsidy. The government has pledged to plant one tree for every child born. This will entail some 4,000 saplings planted every year. 4,000 NEW TREES TAX HOLIDAY FOR MASTERS AND PhD GRADUATES A tax holiday of one year for Masters graduates and two years for PhDs on salaries of less than €60,000 if beneficiaries spend three years working in Malta after graduation. REDUCTION IN EXAMS' FEES A further reducation in fees for exams for SEC and MATSEC, by 50% in 2018; in 2019, the fees will be removed once and for all.