The 2025 budget settlement for the Córdoba City Council has revealed that, while direct tax and fee revenues remained in line with forecasts, the traffic fine category showed a significant deviation. The initial estimate for these penalties was 7.25 million euros, but recognized rights amounted to 4.17 million euros.
This figure represents a 57.5% realization of the forecast, meaning the final outcome was 42.5% below calculations. Liquid collection, which is the money actually received by the municipal coffers from traffic fines imposed by the Local Police, was 2.43 million euros, leaving 1.73 million pending collection as of December 31.
“"In all estimates made by City Councils to prepare their budgets, it must be taken into account that the projection of income must at least match that of expenses. They cannot start from a deficit scenario, which sometimes forces them to balance their economic 'bibles' with a hammer."
In contrast, direct taxes, such as urban IBI and vehicle tax, showed a high degree of compliance. The City Council planned to collect 131.8 million euros from these concepts, achieving 122.2 million in recognized rights, representing 92.7% of the estimate. Liquid collection from these taxes reached 108.2 million euros.
Urban IBI was the main pillar of own revenues, with 72.59 million euros in issued receipts, 95.7% of the forecast. Vehicle Tax contributed 15.29 million in recognized rights, while Capital Gains Tax, with 11.94 million, was the direct tax with the lowest compliance level (84.8%). The Economic Activities Tax (IAE) fell 13.1% below calculations, with 9.91 million in recognized rights.
Regarding fees and public prices, forecasts were met by 87.7%, with 41.66 million euros in recognized rights compared to the 47.48 million estimated. Liquid collection was 33.8 million euros. Notably, there was low compliance in urban planning license fees, which only reached 57.1% of the forecast, and fees for bar and restaurant terraces, which were at 53% of the estimate.
