Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta.  Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian said on Thursday ( he personally reprimanded Pati Regent Sudewo over a controversial 250% increase in Rural and Urban Land and Building Tax .

“I directly called the Regent of Pati and the Governor of Central Java to ask why the mechanism was like that,” he said as reported by antaranews.com. 

He questioned whether the policy had been calculated properly before it was eventually revoked by the regent.

Minister Tito explained that while regional regulations are drafted by local legislatures, the tariff setting for rural and urban land and building tax and property values is determined by regents and mayors, reviewed by governors, and does not reach the ministry.

He called an online meeting with all regional leaders to identify areas with sharp tax hikes, stressing that any fiscal policy must be socialized and consider citizens’ economic capacity.

The tax hike sparked massive protests in Pati on Wednesday, demanding Regent Sudewo’s resignation.

(mg/inp/pr/rs)