Nijmegen city council board collapses
25-11-2009
The left of centre executive board at Nijmegen city council has collapsed following a dispute over a planned increase in property taxes (OZB).
Labour council executive Paul Depla wanted to increase the property tax paid by commercial and residential property owners by 5% and had the backing of Socialist and Groenlinks councillors.
But his own party, which completes the three-party executive, opposed the increase and called instead for a 0.5% maximum increase. Talks with mayor Thom de Graaf failed to end the crisis and the board has now resigned en masse.
Nijmegen is already the most expensive location for business in the country, ANP reports. A new council will be elected next March.
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