Council unanimously approves reduced earth dumping rates at Rabassa landfill for public works, plus

Sant Julià de Lòria council has unanimously approved changes to its tax ordinance, reducing fees for earth dumping at the Rabassa communal landfill on all government-promoted projects in the parish.

The standard rate stays at €12.50 per tonne for private works. Government-led initiatives in the parish will pay €8 per tonne, while council-driven projects face zero charge. Both discounted rates need specific authorisation. Cònsol Major Cerni Cairat explained the move follows an agreement with the Andorran government to lower costs for public works producing large earth volumes. He pointed to the Sant Julià roadworks, forecast to yield about 35,000 cubic metres of earth and stone for Rabassa, as well as the Rocafort tunnel and hydraulic upgrades along the Ós river. The council committed to handling waste from parish-based government projects at its site. Cairat noted a similar reduction in 2011 for the Tàpia tunnel, highlighting ongoing institutional cooperation. For its own projects, the zero rate formalises a longstanding informal practice after recent landfill management reviews.

During Thursday's session, councillors shifted €4.728 million from the 2025 budget to 2026, mostly for delayed investments. Of this, €4.22 million covers capital expenses like construction and projects, while €508,577 goes to current spending on services already delivered but awaiting invoices, plus a €20,000 credit supplement from late 2025. Nearly half—about €2 million—supports the cultural centre refurbishment, which Cairat said remains around €14 million overall, slightly above initial estimates since the November 9, 2022 fire. The facade is almost finished, material issues fixed, and facade lighting tested as a preview. The council plans a special inauguration with artistic events to showcase the venue's role, though no exact date is set. One report suggested a May reopening. Other transfers back projects including elderly housing units now slated for this year.

Minority councillor Josep Majoral supported the budget moves, observing that such rollovers attract varying opinions by political stance but warrant no criticism amid communal management pressures.

Councillors also approved a €453,600 extraordinary credit for public building and space maintenance, final boundaries for Casa Folch land in Auvinyà's fourth quarter, and updates to the People Management and Development Commission, now chaired by Cònsol Menor Sofia Cortesao with members Teresa Areny, Marc Ferrer, and Sandra de la Rosa. Before the session, a public auction granted summer leasing of Francolí mountain land to Jordi Ramoneda of Cal Mitjavila in Fontaneda for a €400 bid.