perusmaksun

Perusmaksu is a fixed base charge used in various Finnish public and municipal services. It is a price component that is charged regardless of how much of the service is actually used. The purpose of the perusmaksu is to cover basic administrative costs, maintenance of infrastructure, or the right to access a service, rather than to pay for the volume of use.

The term appears in multiple sectors, most commonly in municipal utilities such as water and waste management, where a basic monthly or quarterly fee is added to the variable usage charges. It can also be used in other public services where access or service provisioning involves ongoing administrative costs. The exact amount and the customer categories that pay the perusmaksu (for example, households, businesses, or non-profit organizations) are determined by the service provider or the local authority.

Calculation and exclusions vary. Perusmaksu is typically a fixed sum, periodically charged, and may be adjusted annually through budget decisions or tariff changes. Some charges may be means-tested or subject to exemptions or discounts for certain groups, such as low-income households, students, or pensioners, depending on local policies and regulations.

Policy implications and debates often focus on the balance between predictable service funding and equity. Supporters argue that perusmaksu provides stable financing for essential services; critics contend that fixed charges can be regressive and advocate for adjusting the structure to reflect usage or to offer broader exemptions.

In Finland, the use and level of perusmaksu are determined locally by municipalities and service providers within the framework of national regulations.