Christmas has come and gone, and many families in Malaga are struggling. January is always a difficult month, economically speaking, referred to in Spain as “la cuesta de enero”, literally meaning “the upward slope of January”. And now, to add insult to injury, we have an entire range of price hikes to deal with. Urban transport, municipal parking, electricity, trains, toll road charges, postage stamps, taxis and other public services: they will all cost more in the year to come, in some cases with prices rising higher than the consumer price index.
The Malaga City Hall approved the new increase in taxes, surcharges and public service charges last week, amounting to an average increase of five per cent, although the Partido Popular local government has promised to drop these prices next year in line with the consumer price index.
This means that an ordinary city bus ticket will cost 5.88 percent more than last year. The monthly pass ticket rises by 2.43 per cent, while the rest of the tickets - those used by students, children, retired people and the airport - have not increased. And taking your car instead will not save as much as before, unless you have your own private parking space: municipal parking rates have risen by 4.8 per cent, and the blue zone and resident card charges are now 3.8 per cent more than last year.
The price of taking a taxi in the new year will rise by an average seven per cent, although passengers can console themselves by the fact that the taxi driver representatives had demanded a rise of 20 per cent, and this was rejected by the local government.
The biggest rise is in water: almost 35 per cent each month for each family. This sharp increase in water charges is due to the opening of the new El Atabal desalination plant in February or March, and which cost more than 57 million euros to build. This is quite different from the price rise estimated by Emasa, which claimed only five months age that water charges in the city would rise by only 1.8 per cent.
At the beginning of the year, the water charges will rise by 7.63 per cent, and when the desalination plant is actually working - in February or March - the charges will rise by another 27.29 per cent.
Services
Increases in taxes and municipal services will also be applicable from January. Natural gas will cost more, as will use of the telephone, with Telefónica charging us two per cent more than before for the base rate and one per cent more for calls.
Electricity charges for domestic consumers have risen by 1.74 per cent, while industrial consumers will pay 1.61 per cent more than before. Inter-city bus tickets will cost us 2.82 per cent more, to be discounted against a planned price rise for April of this year.
Renfe, the train company, is increasing its AVE high-speed train and long distance tickets by 3.5 per cent, with local and regional line tickets to cost us six per cent more than last year, although these increases have not yet been approved by the government. To drive on the toll roads will be more expensive too, with charges rising by an average 2.93 per cent. This is lower than the increase for the same period last year, which was 3.26 per cent.
And finally, postage stamps prices have risen as well. To send a letter, or a package weighing less than 20 grammes, anywhere in Spain will now cost 3.7 per cent more, going from 0.27 to 0.28 euros for the stamp. Stamps for letters to European destinations will cost 1.9 per cent more, now costing 0.53 euros, while stamps for the rest of the world will cost us 1.3 per cent more, working out at 0.78 euros.
To send certified letters will now cost us one cent more, while all other postage charges - for packages weighing more than 20 grammes, giros and so on - will cost the same as in 2004.
Taxes
Municipal taxes, motor taxes and building taxes in the city of Malaga have increased by four per cent, and all other municipal taxes have increased by five per cent. According to the PP local government, these increases are lower than in other Spanish cities like Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Seville.
Owners of cars of between eight and 12 horsepower will pay 58 euros in taxes this coming year, against the 56 euros they paid last year. Those who have more powerful car, of between 12 and 16 horsepower, will pay 123 euros in taxes, nine more than last year.
Discounts
Disabled drivers will enjoy a 50 per cent decrease in the IBI, and will not have to pay motor tax in the year that they apply for it, and not have to wait a year for this discount, as in the past. The disability level for this discount must be more than 33 per cent.
The rise in the municipal tax known as the “plusvalía”, a land-related capital gains tax, is less than other municipal tax rises, amounting to 2.78 per cent. THE PRICE RISES
The main prices rises for the new year. Also listed are other prices that will rise during the month:
Urban buses
Ordinary ticket: Rising by 5.88% from 0.85 to 0.90 euros.
Monthly pass: Rising by 2.43%.
Parking
Municipal car parks: Hourly rate rising by 4.8%.
Blue zone and resident cards: Both services rising by 3.8%.
Taxis
Minimum service: Rising from 2.64 to 2.90 euros, or 10% more.
Journey: Rising by 5%.
Airport supplement: Rising from 2.5 to 3 euros.
Difference between day rate and night and bank holiday rate: Rising from18% to 21%.
Bank holiday rate: To apply on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Holy Week, and December 24 and 31.
Water
First price rise: To increase in February by 7.63%.
Second price rise: When the El Atabal desalination plant opens (February or March), to rise by another 27.29%.
Other increases
Electricity: Rising by 1.74%.
Telephone: Base rate rising by 2% and charges dropping by 1%.
Toll road charges: An average rise of 2.93%.
Postage stamps: National charges rising by 3.7%.
Inter-city buses: 2.82%
Renfe: AVE tickets rising by 3.5%. Local and regional line tickets to rise by 6%, but the increase has not yet been approved.
Courtesy of Sur in English
www.surinenglish.com
