Property Taxes: Myths and Legends

On October 16, before a large audience at the Miramar Building Audience, our Councilor of Finance and Public Innovation, Jordi Mas, presented in open court the reasons why we were forced to revise property tax and clarified the doubts of owners properties located in Sitges. On Wednesday, I myself had the opportunity to attend a similar event with residents of Garraf and Les Botigues. I explained them the reasons and motives that compelled such an action.

For the Government I preside, it is not a satisfaction to raise taxes, let alone in times of crisis as we live. But there are times that Governments are bound to take unpleasant, unpopular and painful solutions. Even including decisions forced by mandatory law. This is one of those times.

The economic situation of the City Council is, as we all know, very rough and complex. A year and a half ago we inherited an unsustainable debt and deficit that requires urgent and essential measures for its reduction. Since we won elections and formed government, we have applied a policy of austerity that notably reduced spending. For example, salaries of elected and trust officers were reduced 400,000 Euros annually. And all items relating to investment agreements, grants and other activities have also suffered forceful drastic reductions. Let's not remember that budgets allocated to festivities were also drastically cut (the budget of our Main Festivity dropped by 50% over their original budget). Representation went down more than 80%. There was no other option due to the existing high debt and deficit. And those who now question this decision were the ones that were not rigorous and serious enough to do it when they were in power. They did not show any responsibility to people living in Sitges..

The increase in Property Tax will offset the dificcult situation faced municipal finance provoked by irresponsible and poor management of the past government. The revision of property tax is regulated by the Ministry of Finance and Public Administration that determines that the assessment of property values must be madeevery ten years. The previous revision was carried in 1994, so the city of Sitges did not comply with the law for years. And not only the law, but the fact that property taxes were not raised in better economic times, as would have been more reasonable, forced us to do it in a very complex economic condition for all. The rate increase was planned to be done steps during 10 years. Next year, the average increase will be 20%: for 2014 the forecast is at 6%, and in 2015, 4%.In any way, as some groups have expressed in a malicious way, the increase does not stands at 300% or any other figure than those just given.

We are fully aware that this is hardly a measure appreciated by taxpayers, but I want that the all the residents of Sitges know that there was no other option if we did not want to take City to a dead end, the consequences of which would have been catastrophic for everyone: residents, businesses and town.
Desiring to make more bearable the increase, we enabled payment facilities (can be split into three parts) and at the same time, we have turned a line of funding for people over 65 years, since this is one of segments of the population that accumulates more difficulties. The recipients of the grants can process them through Oficina d'Atenció Ciutadana (Public Attention Office) until next 31 October.

Approaching the Festival to Sitges

Sunday ended 45th edition of the Sitges - International Film Festival of Catalonia with a resounding public success and feeling very positive for the town: the Festival is approaching to Sitges.Actions such short documentaries on the beach, the decoration of streets and venues of potentiation offered by Retiro, with a second opening of the Festival or the Prado, with preclosing gala.

From the Town Hall of Sitges we are aware of the importance of associating the festival with the image of our town.It was noy (and is not) sufficient the presence of the mane of the town at the contest, it is necessary to display its geographical and social. the very same place where the Festival was born since it is a undentifiable part of its genesos but also of his character anf future.Sitges, as an population and sentiment, is a central part of this film event.

Sitges 2012 chose this path and has made that ​​the most characteristic places of our town were present in all the media.A clear example is the TV report that will be aired on Cinema 3 of TV3, with an exclusive interview with filmmaker Neil Jordan filmed om por promenade with our church as background.

Another important fact has been conducting talks after screenings of films (postscreenings) in the Prado, Retiro and other nof profit ocial institutions of our town that aso act as movie theaters.This action reinforces the role of the two movie theaters in the town as places with their own strength and presence in the programming of a festival, that screened more than 250 films thanks to the fantastic work of a team led by Angel Sala. I feel I have to highlight the involvement of sponsors who continue to rely on the festival, I must also rely the importance of restaurateurs that prepared The Fantastic Menú ,stores have prepared their shops and windows for the ocasion, or many children from schools of Sitges that made drawns of festival to show it to everyone that walked our streets these days.

Much remains to be done, but the most important thing is that we already begun to walk in a direction that favors Sitges, wich includes the town's economic revitalization.The Festival can not be understood without Sitges and its people.The year's edition has shown that the Festival returns to undertake an orientation that includes and unites the the most important festival of the world in his specialization, and that our population in intimately associated with the Festival since its it birth and has seen it grow and become part of its DNA.

An entirely fantastic Sitges

Today we inaugurate the 45th edition of the Sitges - International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia for all of us, the festival. For ten days, Sitges attracts the attention of film lovers, especially those with a craving for fantastic films. They make our town a destination for film lovers, artists, institutions and representatives of industry and the media.

Last night I had the opportunity to meet with the team and volunteers who make possible the organization and operation of the Festival and I delivered a message: during those ten days you have the Sitges Brand in your hands. . The Festival is an initiative of Sitges with an important international projection. The cost of the impact it has on the media is an exceptional investment, which allows the name of our town to be known everywhere.

The Festival was born 45 years ago thanks to the initiative of a group of people from Sitges. During this time, it has grown and expanded formats, it has changed its name, has adapted to the new demands and needs and has become the most important film festival specialized in fantasy films in the world. For Sitges, it is a first-class event and a source of satisfaction. We are very prideful for the level of recognition that the Festival enjoys today.

This year, just as last year's festival, we have stressed its character as a genuine cultural product from Sitges. The double feature inauguration tonight gathers such an ambiance, a top priority for the City Hall. The auditorium at the Melia is a first class facility, whereby the Festival has achieved a projection that in no way would have been possible. But, a Festival without Sitges, its milieu and atmosphere would not be what it is. For this reason, the right balance of the two factors and its perfect combination is the key to transform the Sitges - International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia, the festival into a first-class cultural event. And we feel proud.