Leaders of Jūrmala City and Tukums region shared the latest information about food deliveries to children in low-income households and others in self-isolation or self-quarantine. President and local government leaders also discussed utility allowances, extension of real estate tax deadline and rent holidays for companies leasing municipal property and having suspended their operations. President Levits praised Tukums region for offering counselling to its residents.
Chair of the Vecumnieki Regional Council told Egils Levits that regional government is considering home delivery of school meals for children in low-income families. Vecumnieki region is also monitoring gathering of young people in public places in scope of its public safety assurance efforts.
Several local government leaders told President Levits that they have proposed loosening of municipal borrowing restrictions to allow municipalities recover from crisis more efficiently through State Treasury loans. Local governments would spend the funding on specific targeted anti-crisis measures and stimulus packages to keep the regional economy going. Egils Levits underlined that government and municipalities should have detailed discussion on the proposal in foreseeable future.
Local government leaders raised their concerns that employees of companies with tax debts are not eligible for ‘downtime benefit’. President of Latvia is convinced that workers of companies with tax debts should also be eligible for emergency social benefits.