Cutting of the tax wedge combined with the transition from 4 to 3 of the Irpef rates, relief for mothers’ work, funds for the renewal of public contracts, Rai license fee discounted to 70 euros, Quota 103 with penalties, financing of the Messina Bridge. The 2024 budget gets the first green light in the Senate after examination by the Budget Commission and includes some innovations.
Here are the main ones.
SAVE OLD AGE PENSIONS
The government has corrected the restriction on pensions (up to a maximum of 25% of the salary) for healthcare workers, local authorities, judicial officers and teachers. The rights acquired as of 31 December 2023 will be preserved and old-age pensions will not be affected, while early pensions will remain penalised. Doctors and nurses will be able to enjoy a further relaxation by extending their stay in service once they have met the requirements for early exit: for each additional month of work the cut in the rate of return on the salary quota will be reduced by one thirty-sixth. Health workers will also be able to remain in hospital even after reaching 40 years of service up to the age limit of 70 years. To compensate for the impact on public finances, the exit windows will be extended for all categories: to 3 months in 2024, to 4 months in 2025, to 5 months in 2026, to 7 months in 2027 up to 9 months from from 2028.
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
With an amendment from the opposition, shared by the majority, 40 million are allocated to build anti-violence centers and shelters, to finance microcredit for freedom and also to economically support women victims of violence and to invest in the training of operators.
ALZHEIMER’S AND DISABLED FUND
The endowment of the Alzheimer’s and dementia fund has grown by a total of 35 million in three years. The fund’s allocation is increased by 5 million for 2024 and by 15 million for both 2025 and 2026. More resources will also be added to the single fund for the inclusion of people with disabilities established by the budget starting from 1 January 2024. fund increased by 320 million in 2024 and increased from 231.8 to 552.2 million euros. The Asbestos Victims Fund was also refinanced with 60 million.
BRIDGE OVER THE STRAIT
The funds allocated for the maxi-project connecting with Sicily are remodeled with a reduction in the costs borne by the State by 2.3 billion (out of a total of approximately 11.6 billion by 2032). The resources are recovered from the Development and Cohesion Fund: 718 million come from the portion of the fund intended for central administrations and 1.6 billion from the portion intended for the regions with 300 million from Calabria and 1.3 billion from Sicily. «Last night the Senate Budget Committee gave its approval to the amendment that remodulates the funds allocated for the bridge, tying up a large portion of the FSC funds destined for Sicily. and with this the confirmation of what we have always said: Schifani’s voice in Rome counts as much as the 2 in Briscola. If these governments (in Rome and Sicily) remain in the saddle, it will be the end for Italy and above all for our island” This was stated by the coordinator of the M5S in Sicily and member of the Ars Nuccio Di Paola and the M5S group leader Palazzo dei Normans Antonio De Luca. «What purpose – the two deputies ask and ask – were the protests of the last few days by the Sicilian centre-right and the flight to Rome of a Schifani who the press describes as furious to save the indispensable FSC resources for our third world infrastructures? To nothing. We will have to settle for terrible roads and disastrous rail connections, while Salvini, who just a few years ago was clearly against the bridge, tries to gather votes with this little toy for the electoral campaign of his party in free fall.”
RISK OF THIRD INSTALLMENT FOR IMU
The maneuver gives latecomers more time to set IMU rates. These are just over 200 local administrations which for this year alone will have until 15 January 2024 to publish the resolutions. The rule has an impact on citizens, who are required to pay the second installment of the IMU by 18 December. If the new rates result in a positive difference, taxpayers will again be called to pay by 29 February 2024 (without penalties and interest). In the case of a negative difference, a refund will be provided.
MORTGAGES AND SHORT RENTALS
Large families will enjoy priority for access to the First Home Guarantee Fund. These are families with three children under 21 and an ISEE under 40 thousand euros, those with four children and an ISEE under 45 thousand and those with 5 children and an ISEE over 50 thousand euros per year. The Fund’s guarantee increases with the number of children: 80 percent of the principal with 3 children, 85 percent with 4 and 90 percent with 5 children. In the housing sector, action is also taken by doubling the dry tax on short-term rentals: it will be 21% on the first house rented (at the owner’s choice), 26% on any others.
SAFETY
With a multi-year allocation, new resources are ensured for the security and defense sector to finance the average increases when fully operational of 195.5 euros gross per month for the police, 187.7 euros for the armed forces and 179.4 euros for the firefighters on which the Government agreed a few weeks ago with representatives of the sector.
THE MICRONNORMS
The budget also includes funds for ad hoc measures, including the strengthening of the Ministry of Agriculture: 6.8 million to support areas affected by natural disasters, 7.5 million a year for three years for modernization of infrastructure, 1 million for the Taranto Technopole and another for rare diseases, 500,000 euros for Trento, the capital of volunteering, 750 thousand euros in three years for veterinary expenses, the same number in the three-year period to install SOS columns in squares and stadiums, 600,000 euros for the new archaeological museum of Poggioreale (Trapani) and another 600,000 for the school center of Montereale Valcellina (Pordenone). Finally, the 10% VAT for pellets is also extended for January and February 2024.