Starting next year, the Cabinet will put an end to the arrangement that makes it possible for taxi companies to reclaim the bpm. These are taxis that are paid by municipalities, so-called regional taxis. Due to the expiry of this tax scheme, the sector is confronted with an annual cost item of at least 60 million euros, KNV has calculated.

Taxi companies fear their survival as they face tens of millions of euros in additional costs. This is because they can no longer count on tax benefits when purchasing new vehicles. 

“As a result, municipalities may no longer be able to pay the bill,” says Hubert Andela, director of Royal Dutch Transport (KNV) at NBR.

These extra costs are in many cases passed on. This is because municipalities conclude long-term contracts with carriers. These contracts stipulate that prices will rise on the basis of the expected cost development, the so-called NEA index.

“The sharp increase in costs leads to a drop in demand because municipalities simply lack money. They have not taken this into account in their budget, ”says Andela.

He expects that clients will cut back on transport as a result. That means fewer kilometers are driven. The Association of Dutch Municipalities (VNG) confirms to BNR that virtually all municipalities are confronted with significant cost increases. 

The VNG is not yet saying whether this will indeed lead to municipalities cutting back on healthcare transport. The VNG announces that it will consult with all parties involved quickly to identify the scale of the problems.

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