The IU (far left) party at the Almuñécar Town Hall proposed increasing the tax levied on banks for having cashpoint machines on public rights of way. The motion was passed with all parties voting in favour, except the CA, who abstained.

The IU justified the proposal claiming that “pague más el que más tiene” (Those that have more; pay more). The increase is pretty significant as banks will go from paying 400 euros per annum to 3,600 euros.

The IU further considers that the tight economic times through which the country is passing has a lot to do with the “bad practices of the banking sector.”

IU Councillor, Francisco Fernández, went on to say, “We consider it immoral that those that have brought about this fraudulent crisis should get off scott free, with the bulk of the cutbacks falling on the weaker sectors of society.”

He further justified the increased taxes by pointing out that a newspaper or sweets kiosk, for instance, has to pay the same amount of tax for occupying a public right of way as bank cashpoints when the latter generate far greater profits

The CA abstention in the voting also drew criticism from the IU.

Another proposal from the IU was also passed with 14 votes in favour from the 21 councillors was for the municipal website to be brought up to date, giving potential tourists more information. Again, all voted in favour barring the CA, who abstained.

Any guesses on whose doorstep this extra cost will eventually fall – keep and eye on your bank charges…

(News: Almunecar, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)