Minister Jorge Quiroz's proposal to compensate municipalities for property tax exemptions for older adults caused divisions among mayors on Thursday. Opposition mayors criticized the formula as unfair, while the Senate postponed the vote until August 4.
Thursday saw intense meetings among mayors following the joint committee session. Opposition mayors including Claudio Castro, Tomás Vodanovic and Karina Delfino gathered in Santiago and called the measure “an aberrant proposal”. They suggested all compensation go to the Fondo Común Municipal for equitable distribution.
The point of tension is that compensation follows current rules, which according to Servicio de Impuestos Internos estimates would benefit richer communes like Las Condes with 13 billion pesos versus 59 million for Quinta Normal. Right-wing mayors defended the measure as fair for all older adults.
Minister Quiroz responded that if mayors do not want the compensation, “it is not compensated and that is it”. The Senate vote was scheduled for August 4 between 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., following a committees agreement due to insufficient votes.
