Palestinian Ministry of Finance empowers major municipalities to collect fees

The Palestinian Ministry of Finance and Planning has signed agreements with the municipalities of Ramallah and al-Bireh, Hebron, and Nablus, allowing them to collect professional and craft fees directly from citizens for the first time. Under this new mechanism, municipalities will collect the fees and transfer the Ministry’s share according to existing property tax protocols. This measure aims to ensure the sustainability of municipal services and financial stability while preventing citizens from having to make double payments to both the municipality and the Ministry.

Additionally, the Ministry signed agreements with the municipalities of Taybeh, Ya'bad, Battir, and Mithloun to enable them to collect property taxes. This brings the total number of municipalities authorized for direct collection to 50 out of 85 in the northern governorates.

In Hebron, an agreement was reached to integrate municipal water services into the ‘Yebus’ application, facilitating access for public sector employees and retirees. Officials noted that these administrative steps are intended to bolster institutional resilience amidst ongoing financial constraints.