Communal Bills Empty Out Pockets

The tariffs are growing in violation of "highest orders".

Not later than in June, Lukashenka said at a meeting with the leadership of his administration that it was essential "to reduce tariffs in Belarus so that the population does not take offense." But the Belarusians are already used to the fact that the ruler's generous promises disagree with reality. The same thing happened this time, Belgazeta writes.

Last week, speaking at a meeting in the "council of the republic," Deputy Minister of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade Ivan Viazhnavets voiced unpleasant news: by the end of this year, tariffs for housing and communal services will have been indexed twice – on September 1 and December 1. The funny thing is that the growing incomes of the population were called the compelling reason for taking such a step. According to Viazhnavets, from September 1, consumers will pay 8% more for communal services, and starting from December 1, "the indexation growth will be about 10%, the tariffs for the population will accordingly increase."

The growth will be even more significant for some of the services. So, the tariff for sewerage will increase by 48.5%, the cost of cold water supply will grow by 27.7%, and the removal of domestic waste and refuse will "grow" by 19%.

At the same time, according to the official newspaper Zviazda, the total communal bill will grow only by $ 5. Thus, at the end of the year, the payment of housing services in a two-room apartment of 48 sq. m with three residents during the heating season will amount to BYN93, and the population will be compensating 74.8% of the utility services’ cost.