The Municipal Budget of Vila Real de Santo António, approved by a majority in the Municipal Assembly, worth 58 million euros, provides, among other things, free school meals for all students.
Although 19% of the budget is allocated to servicing the Municipality's debt, exceeding 11 million euros, the expected expenditure on investment in the municipality's priority areas is over 17 million euros, which corresponds to around 25 % of the total value.
Housing will be one of the main priorities, highlighting the maintenance of the house purchase program within the scope of the Local Housing Strategy, with more than 5 million euros.
Education constitutes, according to the municipality, «another of the main lines of this budget», where it gains importance
the renovation works of the school park, worth 6 million euros.
In this context, family support policies were also maintained, with the decision to provide free meals and card books to students in the municipality's schools. In terms of school meals, an extraordinary measure was approved that extends free meals to all students attending pre-school, basic and secondary public education establishments in the municipality.
«Taking into account the current economic situation, which translates into a significant increase in the cost of living, our priority is to be at the side of families. As we have stated since the first day of our mandate, our focus is on people and resolving the structural problems that the population struggles with», states Álvaro Araújo, president of the VRSA Chamber.
In the social area, support is planned for Private Social Solidarity Institutions and in health, an investment of 2 million euros in the requalification of the municipality's Health Centers.
The 2024 municipal accounts also include the doubling of financial support for Parish Councils, the maintenance of the Association Support Program, as well as the carrying out of maintenance and renovation works on a vast set of infrastructure and equipment in the municipality.
«This is the third municipal budget that we have presented without resorting to increases in municipal fees and taxes. Without forgetting the difficulties and problems that we face daily, this budget is an important instrument to continue developing and consolidating the change and recovery of the municipality», notes the mayor.
Furthermore, the municipality states that «the budget for 2024 maintains strict compliance with obligations
arising from the financial situation in which the municipality finds itself, the obligations contracted with creditors and the Municipal Support Fund (FAM), whilst maintaining a sustained investment strategy in taking advantage of the funds made available by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) ».
«With the achievement of the goals we set for ourselves, we will be able to maintain the early debt settlement plan, which should allow, even during this mandate, to begin the process of gradually reducing taxes, particularly IMI, as well as starting the introduction of legally provided tax benefits but which, due to the serious financial situation inherited, the supervisory authorities have not allowed their application, such as, for example, the reduction of IRS or the application of social tariffs», concludes Álvaro Araújo.
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