Once again, money is the political battleground in Cinisello Balsamo, because the approval of the budget and then, just a few days ago, that of the 2023 financial statement continue to shake things up. After the much noise raised by the right-wing council on the gas bill which would weigh on the municipality’s accounts, which said it was forced to increase local taxes and tariffs in order to keep the accounts under control, the final budget seems to say other things.
The council has allocated 2.3 million euros more to the acquisition of the gas networks than initially estimated and also compared to what was foreseen in the 2024 budget, approved last January. A statement that closes with a surplus of almost 56 million euros and around 5 million euros not tied up but free and available.
The PD goes on the attack and continues to believe that the tariff increases are unfounded in light of the income statement. “This 2023 report demonstrates the mockery of the center-right on the issue of the Reti Gas arbitration award with the approval of the 2024 budget: the increase in the TARI and all local taxes to their ceilings from IMU to IRPEF is disproportionate and unmotivated; given millions of free euros, the arbitration award could have been managed better, without weighing on citizens’ pockets” states councilor Alberto Galli. “An irresponsible propaganda game, that of the Administration, which for a handful of consensus has also increased social inequalities in addition to taxes. The most fragile categories have seen the elimination of the IRPEF exemption threshold, foreseen for incomes up to 10 thousand euros, and the increase in tariffs for Home Care Services (SAD) intended for the elderly and disabled, which went from 2 to 7 euros with an increase of +250%!”, concludes Galli.
After months of alarmism from the majority, in the final analysis the unfair and burdensome increase in municipal taxes which could have been avoided through the application of the free surplus is confirmed, says a note from the PD.
“This budget also benefited from the choices of the past which, thanks to the acquisition of the gas networks, allowed revenue from concession fees to be included in the statement. The income from these fees allowed the council to acquire the improvements made by the operator to the current networks in the period from 2006 to 2018″ – underlines councilor Ghezzi, who adds: “The mayor continues to tell a partial and distorted truth, which has always been denied from the facts, which betrays the trust of citizens”.
