SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, Nov. 16 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Santa Cruz City Council presented its budget project for 2023 this Wednesday, which rises to almost 320 million euros, a “historic record”, since it grows 12.2% compared to last year and where the figures for to care for vulnerable people, which exceeds 35 million, or those destined for investment, with 65 million.
This was stated at a press conference by the mayor, José Manuel Bermúdez, who emphasized that “these are good accounts for Santa Cruz that answer uncertainty with certainty, respecting low taxation and maintaining the quality of all services”.
Bermúdez began by arguing that these accounts continue with the work plan drawn up by the government team, which has resulted in several employment programs coordinated through different municipal areas, “with a social investment never seen in the city, in more tax reductions and in an economic revitalization” that will last until the Christmas season.
This has allowed, he indicated, “that the employment data in the city, within what is possible, are figures that invite us to hope, since we have spent six months with a number of unemployed below the barrier of 21,000 unemployed which represents a year-on-year decrease of 4.5%, and a number of employees of more than 136,000 people, a record number”.
In the social section, he pointed out that the ministry itself considers Santa Cruz de Tenerife as one of the five municipalities in the entire State that invests the most in this chapter per inhabitant.
Juan José Martínez, Councilor for the Treasury, reviewed the large figures, pointing out that “in the forecasts, it must be taken into account that the small cycle of economic expansion that occurred after COVID is going to slow down” and qualified that in Santa Cruz it is faced “with an increase in the income of the REF, as a consequence of this expansive phase of the local and insular economy”.
Along these lines, he stressed that “the fiscal measures of recent years represent an annual saving of 11.2 million for families and companies.”
It is also noteworthy, he continued, “the incorporation of the Next Generation funds, where the different areas of the City Council are having success in concurring with projects for the different services and needs of the city”, at the same time that “in the chapter of income from the corporation, which have to do with taxes and rates, which are slightly reduced compared to 2022, but it has to do with the proper functioning of the management, since those that were derived from sanctions have been reduced”.
In short, he pointed out, “citizens are more compliant and the tax inspectorate is more efficient.”
Carlos Tarife, Councilor for Public Services, wanted to highlight the role of all the technicians in the preparation of this budget that has been prepared “jointly” and reflects a “leadership” throughout Spain in its social support.
INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS FOR 20% OF THE ACCOUNTS
Thus, “of the almost 320 million accounts, 20% is allocated to investment, that is, the neighbors will see works in the streets, which in addition to renovating and tidying up the municipality will generate economy and employment”.
This budget, he indicated, “is good for Santa Cruz, contrary to the scenarios that other administrations propose to us precisely for Santa Cruz, so I must be critical of the budgets that are being prepared by the State, the Government of the Canary Islands and of the Council”.
Along these lines, he added that “they do not invest enough” in the city, for which reason he made an “appeal” to the opposition to support this budget that “supports vulnerable families, invests more than ever in the municipality and with contracts from all public services that will allow us to have a better city”.
Evelyn Alonso, Councilor for Security and Mobility, drew the accounts of her area stating that “currently this area has been separated into two new concepts, Citizen Security and Emergencies, on the one hand, and Mobility, which did not exist until now, and Accessibility on the other hand” and reported that for this reason, the Citizen Security and Emergencies Directorate registers a decrease of 2.5 million gross due to the division of these two large general directorates, going from 11 million to 8.8 million by 2023.
“The budget structure seeks, in any case, to guarantee the supply and services necessary for the operation of the Local Police, Civil Protection and the administrative service for Citizen Security and Emergencies,” he commented in a note from the consistory.
Alonso concluded by stating that “guaranteeing security in the municipality has always been a priority for this government team” which is why new police posts are called while the Mobility area will have a budget of around 23 million euros and staff specific technician.
