During the presentation of the proposal, which was approved by a majority, Luís Nobre stated that “if there were no difficulties in transferring funds from the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR),” he would not propose to the municipal executive the acquisition of the loan, which he asserted, “will enable addressing emerging projects for the municipality.”
“Managing the invoicing from the PRR coming into the municipality is not easy. At this time, we have invoicing amounting to 9.5 million euros that we need to pay (…). If it weren’t for the delays in PRR transfers, the municipality’s financial condition would be extraordinary,” highlighted the socialist mayor.
With that amount, the municipality “intends to acquire a set of properties needed for the execution of various projects, such as the expansion of the Areosa cemetery, valued at 238,566.55 euros, the construction of controlled-price housing in Darque, for 690,000 euros, and the expansion of the sports field in Deocriste, for 200,000 euros.”
The purchase of “a plot for the new GNR barracks in Lanheses, for 70,000 euros, and the acquisition of the swimming pool from the Vila Nova de Anha social center, valued at 850,000 euros” are other projects to be executed with the today approved bank loan.
The municipality also aims to buy a property for the construction of a tunnel connecting the parking lot of the old and current municipal market, valued at 252,980 euros, and acquire a building in Largo Vasco da Gama for 241,593.80 euros.”
The opposition raised questions about the relevance of some investments, such as acquiring the Vila Nova de Anha swimming pool, arguing that it was built with community funds’ support.
In response, the socialist mayor noted that purchasing the pool is not illegal as there is no change in the equipment’s purpose and assured that “all planned acquisitions are assets that remain with the municipality.”
The PSD councilman, Paulo Vale, voted against it, disagreeing with the bank loan model.
“For me, it would have made sense to open a line of credit with banks to advance the funds of PRR-financed works to ease the municipality’s treasury. I would not have a problem approving a loan of that kind,” he stated.
CDU councilwoman Cláudia Marinho, who abstained, said she did not understand why the socialist majority “put all these projects in the same package,” considering that “some are more of a priority than others.”
CDS-PP councilwoman, Ilda Araújo Novo, voted against, a vote she would be willing to change “if, possibly, the projects regarding the acquisition of the pool, the expansion of the sports field, as well as the non-priority acquisition of the building in Largo Vasco da Gama” were removed.
“In none of these cases is assuming the respective expenses a good management of taxes, the taxpayers’ money,” she stated.
The independent councilman Eduardo Teixeira, who rejected the loan acquisition, accused the socialist majority of “mortgaging future municipal terms.”
“The financial situation of the municipality is becoming very distressing. This is what is called managing on a razor’s edge. It could end badly. Mr. president may end his term with the municipality bankrupt,” he remarked.
In the proposal approved today, accessed by the agency, the municipality’s total debt by April 31 was 46,346,481 euros. At that date, the municipality had a borrowing margin of 8,384,700 euros available.
The bank loan the municipality will take out, amounting to 2,543,140.35 euros, has a repayment period of 15 years and a capital usage period of two years.
