Alcoutim council continues its charm offensive with a selection of financial incentives for those living or moving to this eastern Algarve council area.
Not content with its 2014 'grants for babies' scheme to encourage couples to set up home in the area, the council has proposed in its September 7th meeting that it continues to charge the minimum possible in property rates.
Added to this, is the council’s determination to continue to waive the 5% it usually gets from local personal income tax submissions.
The low property rates proposal is enhanced by further allowances depending on how many children are living at home.
The council knows full well that these measures, although they translate into a reduction in municipal revenues, forces the council to run a tight ship while aiming to encourage new residents and to retain those already living in the rural borough.
In July 2014, Alcoutim council voted to grant €5,000 of ratepayers’ money for each and every new born child in the council area.
The grant was to reimburse baby-related expenses in the first three years of life and aimed also to help combat the low birth rate.
As for continuing the low rates and income tax break, “These are important measures to combat depopulation," points out the council whose members will vote on these welcome initiatives on September 29th.
