As part of a continuing strategy by Monchique council to encourage young families to move to the council area, and to ease financial burdens for those already there, new measures have been approved to make life financially easier.
The proposal by Monchique’s mayor, Rui André, (pictured), has been passed by the council and rates bills will be reduced depending on how many dependent children live at an address.
A rates reduction of 10% will apply for families with one child, 15% for families with two dependents and 20% for families with three or more dependents.
There will also be some further tax relief across the area as the council is sharing its proportion of the rates remitted to the council by the state which collects the money.
Rui André commented "This tax relief package for Monchique derives from the decision that we should promote policies and incentives for the population in this low density area which has lost many inhabitants in recent years as can be seen in the last census in 2011.
André added that he wants to make Monchique appealing to young people, without which the council area will end up with a higher percentage of elderly than in neighbouring council areas.
Monchique want to show it is a ‘tax friend to families’ with grants and incentives for new parents and building grants to encourage young couples to move to the area.
