The City Council of São Brás de Alportel approved a budget of close to 13 million euros for next year. Urban renewal, increased mobility and accessibility for all, valuing the mountainous region and tourism are some of the priorities chosen by the executive for 2019.
The São Brasense Municipal Budget has «as its basic principles a balanced and rigorous management, based on careful investment planning for the execution of the municipality's development strategy».
At the same time, “it ensures alignment with the current Community Framework calendar, making good use of the opportunities of the Portugal 2020 Financing Program and an excellent optimization of the public purse”, according to the City of São Brás.
One of the main axes of the strategy outlined by the City Council for the coming year is urban renewal, namely in the historic centre, an area in which «a large slice of the Municipal Budget will be invested».
The municipality plans to move forward with the redevelopment of the south block of Avenida da Liberdade, the 3rd phase of the project to renovate Largo de São Sebastião and adjacent streets, a project that will cost more than 200 thousand euros.
«The large urban renewal project in the town center is intended to be the new phase of this urban renewal strategy, which this budget includes with an amount of 140 euros, to advance this global project», according to the municipality.
The municipality of São Brás de Alportel also intends to invest in the valorization of the mountainous area, «to combat desertification and support the settlement of the population».
In this field, it is foreseen «the creation of the Serra do Caldeirão Interpretative Center, with an estimated cost of 60 thousand euros, the maintenance of the 30% reduction in the IMI for this area of the territory and a whole set of investments in terms of improving the communication routes and infrastructure'.
To ensure increased mobility and accessibility, the municipality intends to move forward, next year, to the construction of the new Circular Bus Terminal. The budget also includes the creation of a shared-use bicycle system and the expansion of the network of pedestrian circuits.
Also with regard to mobility, the Chamber announced “an accessible tourism project for the old town center and the redevelopment of the Verbena Swimming Pools and Gardens”.
In the field of economic development, the City Council of São Brás de Alportel is going to launch a project to refurbish the Quarteirão 4 Olhos and convert it into an Incubation Center for companies and services.
The focus on events will also be maintained, from the start at Feira da Serra, but also at Noite Prata, Stock Out and Noite Vermelha.
Another priority axis is the development of tourist activity in the municipality.
For this purpose, the Chamber envisages “the conversion of the former Olive Oil Mill into an Oficina das Artes; the creation of the Panoramic Viewpoint of the Historic Center in the old water tank for the creation of the Rota do Olhar and the large project to improve the Fonte Férrea Park, with water throughout the year».
A Service Area for Motorhomes will also be created and the project for the creation of the EN2 Interpretive Nucleus will be launched, which consolidates tourism's commitment to promoting the EN2.
The budget also provides for an amount of around 600 euros in prevention and civil protection. This money will be invested “in the creation of forest management strips, forestry work, opening of water points, acquisition of equipment, in partnerships with the Army and in supporting the Volunteer Firefighters”.
The São Brás de Alportel Budget for 2019 also includes the expansion and conservation of the municipality's sanitation network, which will spend around 350 thousand euros.
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