The Education, Science and Technology Commission of the Senate continued this Tuesday with the analysis of a bill that contemplates granting a subsidy of the basic amount billed for consumption at the electricity rate of 50% in favor of the National Technological University (UTN) with seat in the Province of Entre Ríos, and the National University of Entre Ríos (UNER). The initiative will be discussed in the ordinary session that will be held this Tuesday starting at 7 p.m.
This Tuesday the Education, Science and Technology Commission of the Senate met, chaired by Martín Oliva (Uruguay – Más para Entre Ríos), and is made up of Ramiro Favre (Colón – Together for Entre Ríos) Rubén Méndez (Islas – Together for Entre Ríos), Casiano Otaegui (Gualeguay – Together for Entre Ríos), Nancy Miranda (Federal – Más para Entre Ríos), Víctor Sanzberro (Victoria – Más para Entre Ríos) and Juan Conti (Tala – Más para Entre Ríos). Rafael Cavagna (Nogoyá – Together for Entre Ríos) also joined on this occasion.
The bill, authored by Senator Oliva and his peers from the More for Entre Ríos bloc, provides for the granting of a subsidy to the electricity rate of 50% (fifty percent) in favor of Public Universities based in the province of Entre Ríos. Rivers until December 31, 2024.
Within the framework of the work meeting, on the second floor of the Government House, a situational picture of the problem was addressed, to which Senator Oliva stated that “we are fully convinced of this message as a body in defense of the University public.”
The systematized data projected on a screen showed the senators an analysis of the electricity consumption of the UTN Concordia, Concepción del Uruguay and Paraná, and the UNER of the entire province. An important point of the bill is that only what is inherent to fixed charges and consumption rates would be subsidized, not national and municipal taxes. The text would authorize the Provincial Executive Branch to make the necessary modifications and budgetary allocations to guarantee the benefit. Another agreed modification that would be added is the invitation in a similar attitude to municipal governments where UTN and UNER have residences.
The senators of the Together for Change bloc would accompany the initiative, responding to the defense of public education, since they argued that it is about investment and not expenses related to Universities.
In the arguments for drafting the project, it was taken into account that the Universities must face the new electricity tariff schedule in an unfavorable financial position, given that they have a devalued budget. It is worth remembering in this sense that in the previous meeting of the Commission, representatives of the National University of Entre Ríos (UNER), the National Technological University (UTN) and the Autonomous University of Entre Ríos (UADER) were presenting their realities.
