Benidorm announces tax cuts that benefit the entire population

The mayor of Benidorm has announced a package of fiscal measures that will take place in plenary on the 27th and that will bring benefits to the entire population.

Toni Pérez stressed that "since the start of the pandemic, we have been developing a deep and constant analysis of the evolution of the local economy, the situation of families in Benidorm, the local productive fabric and the situation of the municipal accounts "to adopt" numerous and varied measures, trying to mitigate the consequences of this crisis that we diagnosed in Benidorm, from minute one and beyond health, as a prelude to a profound social and economic crisis. "

The mayor has indicated that "in the next ordinary plenary session, to be held on Monday, July 27, we will raise two proposals aimed at the entire population and in the area of ​​fiscal reductions in rates, public prices and taxes."

The first, Pérez explained, is "to establish bonuses for large families, foster families, single parents, people with functional diversity, retirees, pensioners and people with guaranteed minimum income registered in Benidorm, and in terms of the price of access and use of municipal facilities , training or actions, creating bonuses in the offer of sports, educational, cultural or recreational activities organized by Benidorm City Council ”.

These are bonuses that affect six ordinances: “30, on sports facilities and courses; 33, of Education; 34, for nursery and early childhood schools; 35, for the municipal conservatory; 39, for Youth; and 42, for Culture, with discounts between 50 and 75% ”.

Regarding the second of the proposals, Toni Pérez stressed that "it implies a tax reduction of 50% of ICIO, tax on constructions, facilities and works, until March 31, 2021". It is a proposal for a fiscal measure, via modification of the ordinance, aimed at the local productive fabric, stimulating and promoting the development of certain activities, new construction or renovation, which also represent an impulse to promoting employment, also clearly resulting in the social and general interest of the city.

Thus, the tax rate applicable to constructions, installations and works started from the publication in the BOP and the entry into force of this amendment until 03/31/2021 will be 2%.

Toni Pérez stressed that the government team is "permanently and constantly recalculating" the incidence of the effects of the pandemic with the creation of budgets and the impact on municipal revenues. The first measure was, recalled the mayor, "the cost reduction and the diversion of resources to serve the population, among others, with aid to families and freelancers and companies." In this sense, he pointed out that "expenses have also been increased in social care, in guaranteeing food and obtaining basic resources, and services have been transformed to serve more and better the population."

And he concluded: "this government team is modulating, beyond the occurrence, the measures undertaken from the first day, after demanding from the higher administrations a" plan for the special protection of tourism "or a" fiscal summer "that do not arrive " They are the municipal resources, he said, "which, even so, we are making available to our population."

Availability of the municipal surplus

The mayor took the opportunity to point out that even in this situation of social and economic crisis, "the Government of Spain does not respond to the request to release our surplus and although the law does not address lowering taxes for this year, we apply measures, such as these, that as soon as comply with its administrative procedure, will have a direct impact on the population ”.

And he went on to point out an added last-minute problem by the State Administration that leads to the plenary on Monday 27 must adopt the decision to "finance a 2017 call, Red.es, for which the City Council has already contributed its 40% (€ 1,612,000) and the Government has not tendered any amount and now demands that we put 100% of the program ”. Toni Pérez stressed that "in situations like this, the Government is not there to stress the cash of the City Councils and demand more from those we are complying with." The problem lies, explained the mayor, "in that if you don't pay you stay out of the call, and you don't know when they will return the money already consigned".

Benidorm City Council, Pérez concluded, "works with certainties to get out of this situation," while stressing that measures such as the bonus in seven ordinances "benefit the entire population with impact on cash and the possibility of employment."