From The Algarve Daily News
The Municipality of Aljezur has condemned the planned closure of the local Finanças office.
A statement from the President of the council José Amarelinho confirms that the Directorate General of Taxation intends to close several local Finanças offices in the Algarve, including the tax offices in Alcoutim, Castro Marim, São Brás, Monchique, Aljezur and Vila do Bispo.
“This information makes us seriously concerned that we may be facing another strong attack on local autonomy and the quality of life of our people, contributing to the exodus from these areas of low population densities,” criticized the mayor of Aljezur.
According to Amarelinho this situation is even more severe for Aljezur, given that “our municipality has an elderly population, with a large percentage of residents having limited mobility and who can get to major urban centres by themselves.”
“We believe that the process of reorganising Finanças’ services should be a process done in a transparent and participatory way, negotiated, explained and never imposed,” says the Mayor of Lagos, promising much opposition to the closure of the tax office – after the local elections.