The executive approved setting the IMI at the minimum limit of 0.3%, continuing to apply the family IMI, introduced last year, which allows a fixed deduction for the tax payable between 20 and 70 euros, depending on the number of dependents.

All of the municipality’s fiscal policy proposals for 2024 were unanimously approved.

For the councilor responsible for accounting and finance, Miguel Fonseca, maintaining the IMI at the legal minimum limit “is a social measure”, in a context in which the effort of families has increased, given the “escalation” of the Euribor rate that has reflected in bank credit installments.

Regarding the IMI, the Coimbra City Council foresees a reduction of up to 30% in the rate applicable to the area classified as World Heritage of Humanity and its respective protection zone, and a triple increase in the case of urban buildings that have been vacant for more than a year.

The municipal surcharge will remain at 1.45%, and the municipal rate of rights of way will also remain unchanged at 0.25%.

There will also be no changes to the municipality's variable participation in the IRS, which remains at 5%.

“We would be happy to reduce the variable rate, but it will not be possible,” said Miguel Fonseca, councilor elected by the Juntos Somos Coimbra coalition (led by the PSD), noting that this variable participation represents an estimated average revenue of 15 million euros.

For PS councilor Regina Bento, “this is the fiscal policy of the Socialist Party [which led the executive in the two previous terms]”, showing that it is in agreement with “everything that is proposed”.

The socialist councilor also noted that the mayor of Coimbra, José Manuel Silva, as an opposition councilor in the previous term, “did not get tired of proclaiming” a gradual reduction in fiscal policy, which he is now not following.

The councilor elected by the CDU, Francisco Queirós, also considered that he was in agreement with the “fiscal policy presented” by the executive, highlighting that “local authorities do not make omelettes without eggs”, requiring resources “to work”.

According to José Manuel Silva, maintaining fiscal policy represents “a huge effort of rigorous council management and respect for the difficult situation of many families, as high inflation had a very negative impact on public expenditure, which is not accompanied by revenue”.

Next year “is going to be a particularly demanding year”, noted the mayor of Coimbra.