Bratislava-Nova Assembly backs tax credits for historic restoration

The Nord Europa Regional Assembly voted 31 to 8 on Monday to establish a heritage restoration tax credit, allocating 4.2 million florins to offset the cost of qualifying stonework, timber repair, and facade restoration in buildings constructed before 1850. The measure, sponsored by the Assembly's Heritage and Urban Development Committee, targets the medieval quarters of Bratislava-Nova, Košice, and five smaller towns where deterioration has accelerated over the past decade.

Governor Eva Novák signed the measure into law on Tuesday afternoon, calling it "a recognition that preservation and prosperity move together. " The credit applies to projects exceeding 15,000 florins and requires certification by the Federal Heritage Office before work begins. Property owners can claim up to 40 percent of eligible costs against regional income tax liability over three years.

The Assembly's debate revealed a familiar division. Members from the Nord-Slovaka Bloc questioned whether the credit favoured wealthy property holders in the city centre, while Heritage Committee chair Petra Markovic countered that the scheme required public accessibility—restaurants, galleries, and civic spaces must remain open to the public for at least thirty hours weekly to qualify. The measure now moves to federal review under the Federal Charter's inter-regional balance provisions.