The opposition denounces an administrative error that prevents the application of the approved tax ordinances
The Junts per l’Espluga municipal group has expressed its rejection of the new amendment to the ordinance regulating water prices, which was provisionally approved in an extraordinary and urgent plenary session last week. According to Junts per l’Espluga, this modification represents an “excessive and unfair increase in water prices”, which is to be justified with the cost of the tankers that must supply water to the municipality.
Junts per l’Espluga states that the government team reported that with this increase, around 140,000 euros more would be collected than was planned in the municipal budget for this 2024, after having already increased twice, in July and November, the price of water. This amount is slightly higher than what would have been collected if the fiscal ordinances approved at the November 3 plenary session could have been applied, which were not published in the Official Gazette of the Province before December 31, as required by law Regulator of Local Finances. This is an “unfortunate, inexplicable and unacceptable administrative error” by the Espluga City Council, according to the party.
An increase that can reach 280% for some consumers
Junts per l’Espluga supported the last modification of the water ordinance, because at that time the CPI was increased, by 3.5%, and the proposal of the municipal group was taken up that no ‘increase to small consumers. But now, with the new ordinance, imposing a fixed amount of 20 euros per quarter, in addition to consumption, most people will see their receipt increased, but in some cases, the increase for this year 2024 may reach 280 %.
In the most favorable case, when the supply of water by tanker trucks is less than 7000 m3, the rates for this year, after the three modifications of July, November and this February, the four invoicing sections ‘will have increased by 23.75%, 35.82%, 100% and 153.81% respectively, depending on the liters consumed.
Doubts about the legality and justice of the measure
From Junts per l’Espluga, doubts are also highlighted about the legality of applying prices based on the tanker trucks that have been supplied in that quarter, since this causes the consumer, at the start of the tax period , do not know at what price the water will be charged at the end of the same period.
Finally, from Junts per l’Espluga de Francolí it is considered completely unfair, with the increases that are proposed, to apply the rates based on the liters consumed per meter, without taking into account the number of people registered in the homes.
