Arafo Ayuntamiento has approved the reduction of the municipality's IBIs to the minimum level legally permitted, 0.4%. Property owners in the area will find the new rate in their next bills.
The mayor, Domingo Calzadilla, explained that the Ayuntamiento had asked Madrid if it could freeze the tax technically, by freezing the required catastral value revisions, but with Madrid's refusal, the council has adopted the only other possible measure at its disposal to try to reduce the financial burden on residents.
Apparently letters have already been sent out to the municipality's inhabitants explaining both the reduction and the inevitable knock-on effects on the council's income, which will also have an effect on what it can spend on infrastructure, services, culture and sports.
The measure is stressed as "very exceptional", and one intended to be entirely in the interests of Araferos. Sr Calzadilla stressed that the rates have not in fact gone up in Arafo for 9 years, but that in the present economic climate, extraordinary needs called for extraordinary measures.
Perhaps the forum's
honourable member for Arafo could confirm the detail of the letters sent out, and give an opinion?
El Dia