Property tax removed in Bergen

Christmas came early to Bergen this year: the city government has decided to scrap the property tax starting on the 1st of January 2012.

The property tax has been a hot potato in Bergen politics for several years. The Progress Party promised during the local election in 2011 to abolish the property tax and the promise was incorporated into the political platform of the city government after the election.

“We have wanted to remove this tax for a long time and promised our voters that we would if we came into power. I am so pleased to announce we have kept our promise”, says Counsillor for Finance, Liv Røssland from the Progress Party.

Bergen is however an exception to the rule. Since 2005, more and more local authorities have decided to increase their revenues by taxing property. And home owners are the ones paying for it.

“It is more expensive than ever to live in Norway. We believe that taxing homes is unfair and wrong”, says Røssland.