In the early hours of the morning, the City of Naples approved the balance three-year budget and the one for 2025, marking a significant step for the economic management of the city.
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The vote, which took place at 3:46, saw Toti Lange abstain and Guangi, Savastano, Maresca and Longobardi vote against. The budget for 2025 amounts to 5.576.469.594,56 euros, with 1.515.385.338,70 euros earmarked for current expenditure and 1.252.179.801,20 euros for investments in works.
Financial recovery
“The approval of the budget forecast for the three-year period 2025-2027 in the Council is not a mere formality, but represents a step forward in the financial recovery process started in the autumn of 2021 with the installation of the Administration Manfredi, introducing a management model compliant with European standards,” declared Enza Amato, president of the Naples City Council.
“For the first time, Naples will have an operating budget as early as February, a sign of change compared to the past, when delays in approvals were commonplace,” he added. Since 2021, the city’s overall debt has been reduced by more than 1 billion euros and the deficit has fallen by 555 million.
Efficiency in spending
Payment times to suppliers have been drastically reduced, from 174 days in 2022 to just 30 days currently. This reform has allowed local businesses and traders to benefit from more efficient administration. 8,2 million euros have been allocated for public greenery and urban decor, while over 51 million will be allocated to welfare. The investments planned for the three-year period also include the strengthening of public transport, interventions to improve roads, waste management, safety and housing policies. A significant recovery in tax revenues has been recorded, with almost 116 million recovered in 2024.
Future budget objectives
The Councilor for Budget, Pier Paolo Baretta, expressed the hope that the next 2026-2028 budget will be approved by December 31 of this year. This will allow for a budget cycle that includes a settlement assignment in March and a second in July, aligning operations with the budget session between October and December.
The Mayor Gaetano Manfredi he underlined how Naples is the first city to have significantly reduced its debt, highlighting the organizational rationalization activities of the participating companies. “The most evident fact is that Naples is finally a normal city, where the budget is approved in a timely manner. If we continue on this path, at the end of the term we will be able to say that we have brought the city out of the abyss,” he concluded.
Article published on 30 January 2025 - 09:12
The approval of the budget is an important thing for Naples, but I wonder if citizens understand how these things work. It is essential that there is transparency and information, otherwise everything becomes confusing.