The City Council of Los Realejos manages in this year 2022 the largest budget in its history, endowed with 48 million euros, which allows this municipality with almost 37,000 inhabitants to invest this year 10.3 million euros in various public works. According to the first deputy mayor and councilor for Economic Promotion and Development of Municipal Infrastructures, Adolfo González (PP), “in 2022 we have gone from an initial investment forecast of 2.4 million euros for investments to exceeding 10.3 million for public works, which represents almost 22 percent of the consolidated budget of the Los Realejos City Council, which has gone from 31.3 to 48 million euros, after different incorporations of municipal savings funds.
“Although there are more investment chapters, only for public works we have 10.3 million euros this year and that allows us, for example, to invest some 900,000 euros in the improvement and expansion of public lighting in the municipality, or allocate 976,000 euros to the Municipal Cooperation Plan that we developed together with the Cabildo de Tenerife, which is used to carry out the sanitation works in La Carrera and Reyes Católicos, the new pumping station in Calle La Alhóndiga, the comprehensive remodeling of the La Romántica II urbanization, the reform of the Teatro Cine Realejos, the rehabilitation of the Casa del Llano or the expansion of the El Mocán cemetery. In addition, there are 320,000 euros more for the works of reform, expansion and improvement of public schools, or 555,000 euros to rehabilitate the Parque de La Parra”, details Adolfo González.
The Neighborhood Plan that the Realejero Consistory has been carrying out for years also develops numerous works to improve streets, paving, sanitation and lighting in practically all the population centers of the town. In addition, the Realejero City Council has two major projects on its hands that will be carried out in the coming years. These are the new municipal swimming pool and sports complex, and the rehabilitation of the Casona de La Gorvorana, destined to become the great auditorium of the Valle de La Orotava. In the case of sports infrastructure, González explains that “the drafting of the basic project for 60,000 euros has just been put out to tender, with the idea of having it awarded before the summer and at our disposal before the end of 2022.”
The project for the rehabilitation of the Casona de La Gorvorana “is already being drafted and we hope to have that technical document next summer,” announces the first deputy mayor. This reform, which will prevent this architectural jewel from being lost, will be the first step to continue advancing in the project of the future regional auditorium.
Recovering the school of San Agustín is another objective of the realejero Government (PP). “We have already met with the Historical Heritage area of the Cabildo de Tenerife to try to sign the agreement this year and be able to tender the work before 2023,” explains González, who adds that “we already have the rehabilitation project and all the favorable reports.
There is another item of 415,000 euros to formalize the acquisition of land that will serve for the expansion of the San Francisco cemetery, in Realejo Bajo, and for the creation of public car parks in places such as Calle Los Afligidos, La Cartaya, Las Toscas de Romero and also in El Tanque Arriba.
Regarding the equestrian center, Adolfo González reports that “we have already begun negotiations and contacts with the owners of the land around the Finca El Llano to be able to buy it and execute that project there. We are in a moment of negotiation that will not be easy because it involves a large number of people.
An important engine for the local and regional economy are the small and medium actions of the Neighborhood Plan, which includes «actions in Laurel Street, in the heart of La Montaña; recent tenders to reform the Icod el Alto square or to improve El Brezal street, which is an old demand from the residents of this area. The drafting of the reform of the Plaza de La Cruz Santa, the new paragliding track, the Casa del Motor, the reform of the crypt of La Cruz Santa and the Social Work Unit (UTS) of Palo Blanco is also being completed. , apart from many street and highway asphalting actions, as well as the improvement, with external subsidies, of many agricultural tracks».
The realejero Consistory hopes that the Government of Spain maintains the suspension of the fiscal rules, in force until the end of 2022, for the 2023 financial year. “That would allow the municipalities to continue using the remaining treasury to undertake investments and current expenses. The reality is that, at this time, public works are an essential engine to boost the economy, create jobs and face a situation as complex as the current one, ”says the realejero mayor Adolfo González.
