Prepared by Messenger Staff
Volski Says No Personnel Changes Planned
Georgian Dream First Deputy Speaker of Parliament Gia Volski said no personnel changes are currently planned within the government, while acknowledging that senior appointments are coordinated with Georgian Dream founder Bidzina Ivanishvili.
"Of course, all decisions concerning personnel matters are coordinated with Bidzina Ivanishvili, but they are not coordinated with him as a final authority," Volski said.
He said personnel issues are discussed by the ruling party chairman, prime minister and other officials as part of the normal decision-making process.
Volski also argued that speculation about upcoming changes often emerges when there is an attempt to divert attention from positive economic data or other favorable developments.
"Personnel changes are a normal matter, but nothing of the sort is planned at this time," he said.
Property Tax Exemption Threshold Proposed at GEL 100,000
Georgian Dream-led Parliament is considering a bill that would raise the income threshold for property tax from GEL 40,000 to GEL 100,000.
The amendments to the Tax Code, initiated by Georgian Dream MPs, have been submitted to the parliamentary Bureau and will be considered under an expedited procedure.
"The bill concerns the abolition of the GEL 40,000 property tax threshold and retaining only the GEL 100,000 threshold," Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili said at a Bureau session.
Under the current rules, households with annual incomes of up to GEL 40,000 are exempt from property tax. Households earning between GEL 40,000 and GEL 100,000 are taxed at rates ranging from 0.05% to 0.2%, while the rate for households earning more than GEL 100,000 ranges from 0.08% to 1%.
If approved, the bill would eliminate the GEL 40,000 threshold and retain GEL 100,000 as the relevant income threshold for property taxation.
