In an extraordinary plenary session held this Friday, November 10, the Pedreguer government team composed of Compromís has proposed modifying the Real Estate Tax (IBI) upwards. This modification could not be approved, since the PSPV-PSOE and PP groups have voted against it. The Valencians have described the debate and comments generated by the opposition in relation to this point as “incoherence and irresponsibility”.
The mayor and councilor of the Treasury, Sergi Ferrús, has argued the need to raise the IBI tax rate on urban properties, which has been frozen for many years, from 0,56 to 0,62. This proposal would mean an increase of 23 euros per receipt in homes of around 100 square meters in the center of town, or between 21,42 and 47,57 in the most common apartments.
Despite recognizing that raising taxes is not a pleasant measure, the government team highlights the obvious need for this action to maintain the quality of services and investments in the municipality. During the explanatory statement that led the City Council to propose this increase, Ferrús gave examples of other municipalities, both governed by socialists and popular ones, that have taken similar measures to face a difficult year, due to the great increase in raw materials and energy, to guarantee adequate services and investments for its citizens.
Increase in waste collection rate
In addition to the increase in the IBI, it has been proposed to increase the waste collection rate. According to the information provided by Compromís per Pedreguer, the rate currently finances 61,33% of the garbage collection service, and the new legislation requires a "specific and non-deficit" rate that covers the total cost of waste management services. .
The proposal, which would apply only to homes, seeks to unify the rate at 110 euros for all residential units. This would translate into an increase in collection of 113.566,00 euros. For homes within the urban area, the increase would be 25,00 euros, while for homes outside the urban area it would be 12,00 euros. With these increases, the garbage collection rate would finance 71,33% of the total cost of the service.
This proposal has been approved thanks to the abstention of the PP and the votes in favor of Compromís, while the socialists voted against.
The mayor, Ferrús, has expressed his disappointment at the "lack of viable proposals and alternatives from the opposition." Thus, he has reiterated that these measures "are necessary to face a difficult year in which expenses have increased due to external factors." Finally, the mayor has warned of the possible consequences, indicating that the opposition's decision could jeopardize subsidies for local entities and government projects in education and residence.
The arguments of Pedreguer's PSPV
The PSPV-PSOE, for its part, has expressed its rejection of the proposals to increase the IBI and the Waste Rate presented. The main reason, they say, "is the considerable increase proposed to apply to receipts for the year 2024, which exceeds the estimate of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for that same year," considering it unjustified and unnecessary, "given the surplus." which, according to the PSPV-PSOE, "has been held by the Municipal Government of Compromís, especially during the electoral period."
The increase "would put many families and local businesses in the municipality in serious difficulties," they said. The socialists have described the proposal as "lack of coherence in proposing such an abrupt increase after governing with an absolute majority for the previous four years, without any increase in these taxes."
Finally, the PSPV-PSOE has argued that "the general situation of the region" should be taken into account, adding that "according to the latest report from the Valencian Institute of Statistics (IVE), the Marina Alta leads the rates of poverty and exclusion social compared to other Alicante regions. Based on this context, the socialists have described the proposal as "atrocious."
