LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROPOSES SUSPENSION OF LICENCE FEES AMONGST NEW FISCAL MEASURES

The local government team in Xàbia has approved a proposal to submit a package of fiscal measures for debate and vote at the next plenary session of the local council through which it aims to “assist residents” as well as provide “the basis for the preparation of an updated municipal budget”, according to the councillor responsible for the Treasury, Teresa Legay.

The proposals for 2024 include the suspension of fees for opening licences and for the municipal nursery whilst also removing the connection fee charged by the municipal water company AMJASA for new customers. The councillor explained that charges for the supply of drinking water have increase by 7.88% annually through the connection to the network of each new meter.

With regards to the opening licence charge, the councillor explained that its suspension aims to be an incentive to create and open new businesses and companies in Xàbia whilst the removal of fees for the municipal nursery will provide “relief for 34 families”.

She further explained that these modifications to the municipal budget “will allow the local government to prepare accounts for 2024 in accordance to the current situation in Xàbia and of the economy as a whole”, adding that the government team “will not raise taxes and fees” since it is “committed to management and the proof of this is the approval of this package of responsible measures”.

With the regards to the rest of the taxes and charges, the councillor said that the rubbish tax will be restored in 2024 because it is the intention of the current government team to “manage with the greatest responsibility” and that all “taxes and fees paid by the residents are reflected in the municipality”. She explained that the cost of collecting and treating the rubbish generated in Xàbia as well as street cleaning in the municipality is around 6 million euros with 4 million euros collected from the charge. Therefore it is a deficient service.

PSOE denounces decision as a “rise in tax”

The opposition PSOE has already denounced the decision of the tripartite PP-VOX and CpJ to increase municipal rates by around four million euros, which will be achieved by restoring the rubbish tax which was suspended by the socialist government during the last legislature.

In a press statement, the socialists said that despite the fact that there is more than 40 million euros in the council coffers, the tripartite will be imposing a 125 euro tax of each household and an average of 485 euros of businesses in the municipality, a rate which rises to more than 1,000 euros for hospitality businesses.

Former councillor for the Treasury, Ximo Segarra, insisted that the measure is not justified in any way. “Why do we want to take 4 million euros out of the pockets of all the residents and businesses of Xàbia, when we have more than 40 [million euros] in the bank and the banks are also going to pay us 2 million for our deposits?”

PP calls out socialists for “lack of management”

The PP responded swiftly by accusing the the PSOE of hoarding money in the bank whilst the general state of the town declined, calling out the socialists perceived lack of management whilst they were in charge for 12 years. “[A town council] raises money through taxes to manage them responsibility and efficiently in services, infrastructure and attention to citizens … not collected to have it in a bank.”

The statement also insisted that “no taxes are being raised” and that the government team is simply “[restoring] the rubbish rate … to normal without any type of increase”, accusing the socialists of suspending this tax for 2023 “because it was an election year … it was their last [attempt] to try and get votes”. They called out the PSOE for not being able to manage services efficiently: “the proof of this is simply having walked through the municipality where it was not clean”.

The statement concluded with a pledge: “We come to work, manage and achieve an impeccable Xàbia and not to enter into discussions or political arguments that only try to obtain electoral revenue without thinking about the residents.”