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A petition calling for old-age pensions to be exempt from tax has reached the 5,000-signature threshold for debate in the States Assembly.
Ministers will also have to respond to calls for free town parking on Saturdays and dedicated dog-friendly beaches after more than 1,000 people signed petitions on each topic.
Paul Troalic's petition 'Make states old age pensions exempt from tax' has garnered over 5,000 signatures, and will now be considered for debate in the States Assembly.
Ministers already had to respond to the petition after it hit 1,000 signatures.
They made it clear they disagreed with the notion, stating that about 50% of pensioners don't pay income tax because they are under the allowance.
In their response, Ministers explained that the way States pensions are funded is different from the way that private pensions are funded.
Unlike private pension schemes, States pensions are funded by a mix of islanders' social security contributions, employers' contributions, and the States Grant – which tops up contributions from islanders who make less that £65,400.
The response said: "Exempting the old age pension would not benefit lower earners.
"Exempting the old age pension from income tax would only benefit pensioners who pay income tax. It would do nothing for the half of pensioners (the lower earners) who do not already pay tax."
Age Concern chairman Ben Shenton also confirmed that many of the organisation's members did not pay income tax.
Mr Shenton is also the creator of another popular petition which calls for States-operated car parks in town to be free on Saturdays.
"The internet is killing retail and St Helier is becoming a ghost town," he said, explaining that removing parking charges would remove a barrier for people using local shops and restaurants.
The petition has reached 1,261 signatures and has been waiting for 21 days for a ministerial response.
A petition calling for dedicated year-round dog-friendly beaches recently surpassed 1,000 signatures – the amount which
Currently, dogs have to be on a lead on beaches between 10:30 and 18:00 in the summer months. Horses are not allowed on the beach at all during these times.
The petition proposes following Guernsey's model where, during the summer months, some beaches ban dogs entirely and some beaches allow dogs to roam at all times.
A petition reigniting a months-long controversy around a trial of a one-road system on St John's Road, which has been hotly contested for the past year, currently has over 600 signatures.
The initial concept – proposed last summer – saw the lower section of the road become one-way northbound, with southbound cars diverted along other roads in the area.
After delays, public pushback and apparent supply and labour issues, the project was shelved in favour of "a different approach" which saw the road become one-way, southbound only as part of a trial.
The petition calls for this one-way system to be revoked.
It says: "The Minister for Infrastructure has stated that if the trial scheme is successful then it will be considered for permanent implementation, therefore forcing through the changes without any proper public consultation."
You can view all open petitions on the States' petitions website.
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