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iSSUE 652
13 APR - 19 apr 2012
Back in the black
What a load of rubbish Mayor Cesar Sanchez has terminated the contract with the rubbish collection company Colsur Sl for “repeated” breaches of the terms of the agreement and poor performance p3
Turbulent times for tourism
by jack troughton
A HIKE in airport taxes are worrying tourist chiefs as they forecast a 2.9 million fall in numbers of holidaymakers p6
Moving back to the UK When using a Spanish bank to exchange Euros to Sterling there are many things that have to be considered p26
Spring into summer this season we can look forward to bold patterns and bright colours and shed those drab winter clothes p38
Tee M S Find out why Andy Kay is upset with BBC Sport and its commentators p56
Easter bunnies
Jasmine from EKA
YOUNGSTERS FROM the European Kids Association were out and about over Easter raising the profile of a charity aimed at helping teenagers and children achieve their dreams and potential. Lolly and Jasmine offered a face painting service while spreading the word about the Costa Blanca charity which relies on fund raising to help fund projects. For more information about EKA visit its website www.europeankidsassociation.com
COST CUTTING helped a Costa Blanca town hall move its finances back into the black after the economic crisis was faced head on, residents were told. Teulada Moraira was in a better position than many local authorities across Spain, said Mayor Antoni Bertomeu: “Many of whom have serious problems.” English-speaking residents packed a meeting with the mayor and members of his government team last week at the Salon Canor to hear the latest news from the town hall. Mr Bertomeu warned property taxes would have to rise by 10% following an order from Marino Rajoy’s government in Madrid. But he reassured residents: “The taxes we pay in Teulada Moraira are amongst the lowest in the Province of Alicante – we do have the possibility of raising these, however, we have decided not to raise them in 2012 because people and businesses are experiencing a very difficult time this year. “This is why we have decided to continue along the same lines of the past few years – based on reducing expenses in all areas of the budget.” He said along with cutting costs, the increase in IBI ordered by the government, income from the sale of municipal owned plots of land for housing, and a refund of taxes paid
on building the auditorium in Teulada “allow us to make a balanced budget for 2012.” Mr Bertomeu said over the last four years town hall coffers had moved from a deficit to a surplus – in 2008, the start of the crisis, Teulada Moraira was 193,000€ in the red. The meeting was told in 2009 it increased to a deficit of 1.21 million euros, the overdraft was cut to 263,000€ in 2010 and moved into the black in 2011 to the tune of 63,000€. “This has been possible because we took action immediately the crisis began and in 2009 we began to apply austerity measures and strict control of public expenditure – a policy we have maintained in 2010 and 2011.” The mayor said the town hall was legally obliged to raise property taxes and hoped the changes would help the local economy next year. “We hope the financial situation will improve for people and businesses.” However, the mayor warned to maintain services next year there was “no alternative” but to utilise income based on the increase in property taxes and raising vehicle and other public taxes. He said the income would not only “maintain the quality of our services” but also improve roads, fund projects to help residents and boost the local economy.