Salerno is already among the city with the highest local taxes in Italy – even the additional Irpef is 1.1%, not to mention the Tarsu – but for services it is at the bottom of the quality of life rankings. And to settle a budget that seems like a Gruyère rather than an accounting document (which was also wrong in the first draft presented to the city council), in recent months the administration has prepared a boarding tax for all those who stop in the city. Not only tourists arriving on cruise ships, but also those embarking from Salerno with ferries to the Amalfi Coast. Not necessarily tourists, even those who in summer instead of taking the car or bus choose the seaside routes.
The expected income from boarding fees, recorded in the budget, is approximately 750 thousand euros. AND it will affect around half a million passengers a year. Everyone pays, on average one euro and 50 cents, except the children. But the increase, especially for those who work on the coast from Salerno, risks moving these commuters from sea roads to asphalt ones. With consequent flooding of one road, the only one, which becomes impassable especially in the summer months.
For this reason the Conference of Mayors of the Amalfi Coast took a stand against the departure tax of the Municipality of Salerno. Yesterday, during a meeting held in Praiano, they decided to make an official request for exempt at least residents and workers who use ferries every day. Furthermore, the Prefect was urged to ask for a technical table aimed at discussing the disembarkation and docking operations of the ferries which have now been extended in time.
