Desenzano Budget and Public Works Plan for 2001
Last night saw the second session of the Desenzano City Council. On the agenda were the forecast budget and the three-year plan for public works. “For the second consecutive time, we approve the budget by December 31,” began Councillor Mario Marchioni. “But we also need to focus once again on the government because it forces municipalities to increase their expense coverage. The alternative remains raising taxes and tariffs.” “Just think about it,” he added, “compared to 1994, when the state transferred 175,000 lire per citizen (state transfers to municipalities), today, net of IRAP, that amount has fallen to 66,000. To be clear with citizens,” he continued, “state transfers used to cover 19% of expenses; now it’s only 3.4%.”
Following the political introduction, the budget councillor reviewed strategic operations for the Anelli administration: a 0.2% increase in the IRPEF surcharge and the establishment of new paid parking areas. From the first, it is expected to generate 1 billion and 100 million lire; from the second, at least 1 billion and 600 million. “That’s enough,” explained Marchioni, “to cover the gap caused by the missing state transfers in 2001.”
Services on Demand and Public Interventions
Regarding services on demand, recently embroiled in controversy, Marchioni said: “Our services cost us a lot, and user participation is minimal; the rest must be covered by the administration. Here are some figures: nursery coverage is 36%, aggregation centers 28%, and school transport 21%.” A frugal budget, then. Why, for example, will almost 500 million lire be cut from tourism? How will the councillor organize events? “We will need to find sponsors,” Marchioni replied, “because we couldn’t reduce services for the elderly.”
In the area of public interventions, the center-right administration completed 60% of planned projects in 1999. Upcoming projects include improvements to the sports facilities in S. Martino, the sidewalk along via Colli Storici, the first phase of the Desenzano lakeside promenade, the recovery of the former slaughterhouse, the Rivoltella lakeside walkway, the new Anffas center in the district, as well as the start of work on via Venezia, the Piscine Park, and the completion of the Spiaggia d’Oro and Rivoltella’s seaside resort center.
Finally, citizens’ safety will be enhanced by hiring four new municipal police officers, increasing the force to 28 personnel. Continuous shifts will be guaranteed from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m., every day of the year. Additionally, dozens of cameras will be installed to prevent thefts and vandalism.