Pärnu Deputy Mayor Meelis Kukk told ERR that a proposal was made to consider introducing a second home tax, primarily for holiday apartments.
According to Kukk, Pärnu city must organize waste collection and space maintenance, even though the income tax of the holiday apartment owner goes to the municipality of their principal residence.
Kukk explained that the second home tax would affect those who own multiple properties. The tax could be collected through property tax or registration fees.
He added that he personally supports the option where the tax is distributed among different municipalities.
According to Kukk, the second home tax would affect 8-10% of Pärnu's property.
Coalition partners said that the approach to the ministry was Kukk's own initiative. Irina Talviste said that the idea is Kukk's and not the city's position.
Talviste stated that the proposal has not been coordinated with the rest of the city government.
Kukk responded to Talviste that responding to the ministry's inquiry was a shared task of all city government members.
He explained that the regional ministry sent a document on July 9th with a deadline for response by the end of the month.
According to Kukk, no other member of the city government submitted a proposal by the deadline.
Kukk said that he fulfilled his official duty and prepared a response so that the city's voice in national legislation would not be lost.