Brisa boss sets out way to reduce loss of tax revenue
Even before the ‘scrapping’ of tolls on motorways like the Algarve’s A22, murmurings have started on ways for the government to ‘get round the loss of tax revenue’.
Parliament only recently voted for all former SCUT highways (conceived as non-paying roads, but illegitimately transformed into tolled motorways during the post-bailout period) to be once again ‘free’ to all comers. It was a vote that went against the policies of the minority AD government, and one that will ultimately carry around €200 million in ‘costs’ that will have to be borne by the State Budget.
Thus, the idea of António Pires de Lima – a former PSD minister of the economy – and now president of motorway concession Brisa (which does not operate former Scut highways; these are, in the main, the responsibility of State authority Infraestruturas de Portugal).
His suggestion would see ONLY local people (ie, in the case of the A22, only Algarvians) being able to use the motorway free of charge: all other drivers would still have to pay the charges, per section of motorway, as per the current ‘set up’ equipped with cameras and sundry tech.
In interview with Antena 1, Pires de Lima said if this was the solution adopted, ‘losses’ to the public purse would reduce considerably. Instead of the predicted €200 million shortfall, revenue losses would be more in the region of €40 million.
Pires de Lima’s argument is based on the fact that unless a solution like this is reached, all taxpayers will be left funding this huge drop in revenue to the State, irrespective of whether or not they even use the country’s motorways.
Added to this, Brisa’s CEO stressed that wear and tear on the formerly tolled highways will increase – requiring more repairs than those currently needed, and potentially more accidents.
As this was an interview aired over the weekend, the various political parties that clubbed together to thwart the government (by approving the abolition of tolls) have not had an opportunity to react.
