Tari, a record Naples evasion: there is a risk of an increase, hunting for extra funds
We are on the eve of the first real budget – the forecast 2022-2024 – of the time of Gaetano Manfredi mayor, on Tuesday he arrives in the Chamber and as always happens in these cases the tensions are not lacking. Emerged in the commission where the councilor for the budget Pier Paolo Baretta was heard – the increases in personal income tax and the airport boarding tax and above all the puzzle of the Tari that does not fully cover the waste service – and then in the late afternoon in the meeting of majority preparatory to the discussion in the Council where in addition to the justified absences there was that of Rosario Andreozzi, of Napoli Solidale: a signal in view of Tuesday?
In the background – on a political level – it is likely that the group “Together for Italy” will make its debut in the House on Tuesday which is headed by the Foreign Minister and former M5S Luigi Di Maio who – however – does not question loyalty to Manfredi, and the budget will vote it together with the Contiani. The concerns of the Democratic Party are grafted into this framework. The dem believe that the majority need “a registered one” and are ready to ask the mayor for a confrontation. They are convinced that in September the Dimaiani will ask for a councilor and the reshuffle waltz will begin. And finding the right balance will not be easy. Also because a couple of advisers from the moderates of the center-right are heading towards the Dimaiani. They would thus become the group with 5 councilors after the dem who have 6, relegating the M5S who according to three far behind. In short, a political earthquake that – for the Democratic Party – must be managed in time and not immediately. At that point we mostly owe two groups very close to the center-right: the Dimaiani and the Azzurri.
Baretta gave the green light to the maxi-amendment discussed in the majority meeting: “We will bring the cost of the maintenance area from 16 to 20 million”. The square on what to put in it, the requests of the opposition have also been received, but it has not yet been found. But the budget is from a perspective and should be evaluated by seeing what Baretta put into it in the tables.
“And it is clear – explains the commissioner – that we are moving towards an increase in personal income tax and the introduction of the boarding tax”. Not the only increase risk, also linked to the evasion that exists in Naples. The Tari, the tax for waste, pays only 47% and even less is the data on non-domestic users. “We have in front of us – says Baretta – a problem: the difference between the Tari income and the cost of the service, a topic to be addressed in the autumn”. What does it mean? Asìa for waste collection costs the Municipality 237 million per year. But it collects a maximum of 170. While the Tari should fully cover the cost of the service.
«The Tari revenue forecast – it is written in the summary of the financial statements – is equal to the value of the tariff recognized for 2021 by Arera. It is one of the Administration to proceed with the approval of the acts for the adjustment of tariffs ». Arera is the acronym that stands for “Regulatory Authority for Energy, Networks and the Environment”, a State Agency. The Municipality has two ways in front of it: finding a chapter of expenditure to support the waste service, in this case it could draw on the “Fund of doubtful receivables” where uncollected figures are set aside, or put a hand to the increase in the tariff. “The theme – explains Baretta – is that beyond the evasion, the costs of the service, that is diesel fuel, have increased: we hope that the government supports the Municipalities, the problem is not only Naples, the reflection must be made in the autumn”.
Selling the Erp houses is the goal within 3 years: «The plan we will launch – says Baretta – is to have the tenants redeem the house with the rent ». Houses that require major maintenance that the Municipality cannot guarantee due to lack of money. Further information, if the assets are not directly owned by the Municipality “but of a beneficial participation, we too will compete for the 110 bonus and restructure our assets” explains Baretta.
Catello Maresca – head of the center-right opposition – criticized the few funds put into the security sector. There are only 3.2 million to hire the traffic cops. And he asked to improve the equipment of the municipal police with the “Teser”, the electric guns: “I talked about it with the competent councilor making De Iesu that a study on the matter”.