The Brescia city council approved the change to the 2024-2026 budget forecast with 7.5 million euros of increased current revenue and a debt of 2.71% which limits the possibility of bad surprises. A balance that the mayor Castelletti defines as “virtuous: the city is increasingly competitive and supportive”.
The council’s satisfaction, in particular, falls on the 118 million euros in funding, among which the 63 million in extra funds for the construction of the tram stand out. “Resources that we can put to work thanks to the 1,700 employees who worked to implement the projects,” underlined the budget councilor Marco Garza when illustrating the document.
The debate on A2A dividends
The budget, however, does not convince the opposition. The center-right returns to the dividends of A2a, with which – it accuses – the municipality has a strong relationship of dependence. “How long will we be able to rely on this revenue?” asks Fabio Rolfi (Civica Rolfi Mayor) of the council. Paolo Fontana (FI) echoes him: “our balance sheet depends more and more significantly on the market”. Statements that are branded as “a profoundly intellectually dishonest and provocative narrative” by Fabrizio Benzoni (Action) and as “an obsession of the centre-right” by Diletta Scaglia (Pd): “let’s commit these 75 million on the most important chapters for our city, such as transport and social services. If you really want to think about it, tell us what you would use them for.”
The minority insists: “the waste sent to the waste-to-energy plant has increased because we import it from other municipalities, yet we pay for increased district heating to allow for those extra dividends on which the municipal budget is based” attacks the minority leader, Fabio Rolfi. Benzoni responds provocatively: “I challenge you to exchange the bills of the people of Brescia with those of any other city”.
Funds for Carmine stewards
The examination of the budget items also brings into the classroom the theme of nightlife in Carmine. One of these, in fact, reports the figure of 100 thousand euros for the stewarding service, part of the experimental project launched in the neighborhood last autumn. Carlo Andreoli (FdI) asks for explanations: “Why don’t we spend these resources to solve the acoustic problems, which are the main problem of the neighborhood?”.
The councilor cites the example of Turin, where the administration has used sound level meters to monitor the city’s nightlife: “First of all we need to have acoustic monitoring, I don’t understand why the municipality doesn’t want to do it.” The answer comes from urban marketing councilor Andrea Poli, as well as promoter of the experimental path involving the neighborhood. “The issue of noise is complex” warns Poli. “I understand that the venues have respected the indications and limitations on music. The few times any infraction occurred, these businesses were fined and closed.” To sum up the nightlife, the councilor concludes, it will be necessary to survive the summer.
