The first financial measures of Vestmannaeyjabær municipality for COVID-19

Among the topics of discussion were the actions of Vestmannaeyjabær municipality to meet the needs of businesses and households due to the income curtailment and other financial difficulties resulting from COVID-19. The government has already announced its economic outline, including proposed that municipalities contribute to this effort in the way possible and especially with the mitigation and increased construction, or the displacement of the projects that have been decided to launch. Vestmannaeyjabær has already started preparations for alleviation and other measures to help households and businesses. Some actions can be taken immediately, but others require more preparation. The City Council has therefore decided to take the following measures immediately:
 -to postpone the next two due dates for property taxes (fasteignargjöld). Real estate tax due dates April 15 and May 15 will be set to December 15, 2020 and January 15, 2021.
 -to only charge fees for the services provided. This means that e.g. that if parents report that they will not send their children to preschool for some period, preschool fees will not be charged for the period in question. When 50% service is provided, a 50% fee is paid. This also applies to other services of this kind.
 -to postpone it until at least April 25th to send out invoices for services already provided by Vestmannaeyjabær, such as kindergarten fees, fee for kindergarten and primary school services.
 -to move to the construction and maintenance of the town in order to create individuals jobs and income for businesses. Vestmannaeyjabær has already decided to speed up some maintenance projects in the town's budgets.
 -to begin preparations for a tourism marketing campaign for 2020