Governor submits bill that increases taxes.
Governor Wellington Dias sent a bill to the Legislative Assembly that increases the tax rate on various products; he explained that he needs to work with some safety margin and that if the economy changes, he is authorized to reduce the tax burden; "There's no way around it, someone is sick, the doctor says: they have to take an injection. Nobody likes injections, but that's the way it is, nobody likes taxes, but that's the way it is," argued Wellington Dias on Piauí Hoje.
By Paulo Pincel/Piauí Hoje "The medicine is bitter, but it's necessary to save the patient." This comparison was made by Governor Wellington Dias when justifying the bill submitted to the Legislative Assembly that increases taxes on various products.
"The Legislative Assembly is mature enough to understand. There's no way around it, someone is sick, the doctor says: they have to take an injection. Nobody likes injections, but that's the way it is, nobody likes taxes, but that's the way it is," argued Wellington Dias.
The governor explained that it's necessary to work with some safety margin. "I look ahead and there are alternatives, but I need to work very cautiously. If it's good to keep the civil servants' salaries up to date, to have services running... let's go that way. It's a measure that no governor would want to take. No one from the people approves. It's an injection into the disease, a necessity. If it weren't, I wouldn't do it," assured Wellington Dias.
"What I'm saying in the message is that the Assembly approves tax rates for some areas, but if the economy changes, I am authorized to reduce the tax burden. We are doing a tax amnesty program on the other end to make life easier for business owners. In 2015 I said: there will be a crisis, we will have to prepare for it in advance, and we took measures such as spending cuts and increased revenue, because there is no ready-made recipe. I think we will overcome 2017, but I think 2018 could be worse. Look at the national scenario, there are no signs that the light is clear at the end of the tunnel," he warned.