Local councils across the Costa Blanca have felt the pinch since the construction industry hit the rocks and to make sure that they have enough money in their coffers they are beginning to increase local taxes.

For many councils the answer to this sharp fall in revenue has been an equally sharp rise in IBI taxes following a review of the catastro land value rates.This has seen towns such as Campello,Muchamiel,Pinoso,Benidorm and Altea increae IBI by 30,100,58,27 and 20 % respectively.

This is an easy way for councils to maintain their income but according to the provincial promoter’s association Provia ,it is not the most effective.He says that the councils have been steadily increasing this tax over a number of years but they have not increased services alongside the increases.

In 2008 town halls across the region took in 419 million euros ,a rise of 9.32 % over the 2007 income.He thinks that it is the ordinary resident,who can ill afford to fund the bad management of town halls.with their money.He wants town halls to cut back on their spending and save money ,rather than ask the poor residents once again to get them out of a hole.