The administration will be able to count on a treasure of more than 1.4 million euros to make investments, which today received the approval from the municipal council for the final budget for 2023. The surplus is 985 thousand euros, down from 2, 2 million in 2022.
The sum, as explained in the chamber by councilor Riccardo Pagni, will be allocated for public works, for structural issues of the public building and to cover some debts for legal expenses resulting from sentences unfavorable to the Municipality. And to the investment part is added a figure of 469 thousand euros which can be used “for political actions towards citizens during the mandate”, as explained by Pagni. The exercise is the result of the activity carried out by the last months of De Mossi’s mandate and the first months of the Fabio government.
The 2023 result exceeded 68 million euros. 56 million of set aside sums, 9 million of the restricted part and the 469 thousand euros mentioned above must be subtracted from these funds. This is how you get the surplus.
“I don’t want to be triumphalist – Pagni said in the classroom – but the criteria of prudence we used rewarded us for obtaining this result”.
“The numbers are an example of seriousness and concreteness – is the opinion of Pierluigi De Angelis, advisor of Fratelli d’Italia -. The Municipality was not obliged to activate the guarantee fund for commercial debts. This is an important signal sent to our suppliers.” Sweet words also from Orazio Peluso, Lega: “We have numbers that testify to the solidity of the Municipality. And the revenue data is very positive. The administration can manage the present and face the future, despite the unknowns that will arise.”
From the opposition, the first to intervene is PD councilor Alessandro Masi: “The auditors recommend more punctual planning in making the budget forecast. And I also point out that the decrease in the surplus for the year limits the Authority’s maneuver in case of emergency and in making investments”.
Gianluca Marzucchi, Polis, underlines how “an important part of the costs is covered by citizens and entrepreneurs” such as “the services enjoyed by citizens of neighboring municipalities”. In asking for a solution, Marzucchi then highlights how it is necessary to evaluate the possibility of taking on debt for possible investments.
“The budget surplus is only equal to 1% of our result. It seems like a very fragile budget to us”, clarifies Anna Ferretti, Siena project.
“We can think about making investments but without making flights of fancy. Easy with the visions. The visions that the Democratic Party has presented to us in the past have become mirages if not nightmares”, the response of Marco Falorni, councilor of Forza Italia-UDC
During the discussion, the majority and the opposition – in particular the centre-left forces – exchanged numerous accusations about the newly approved budget. Numbers which, according to those who support the council, are also affected by the errors of previous management, when the city had a different political colour.
This is a refrain that is often repeated during classroom work. And in response to the invitation not to look at the past from the Democratic Party, FdI councilor Enzo De Risi also brought up the anti-fascism topic.
“I wanted to make a comment – he stated – I agree: let’s look forward. So let’s not remember anti-fascism.”
Marco Crimi
