The plenary session of the Tenerife Cabildo has initially approved the budget of the island corporation for 2024, the first of the government pact between CC and PP, accounts that have been liked by Vox, whose councilors have voted in favor, and rejected by the PSOE.
The budget, to which four partial amendments from Vox and two from the PSOE have been incorporated in the plenary session, foresees an expenditure of 1,041 million euros, 9.9% more than in 2023, although it will be 1,138 million if dependent entities are included. , a 7.7% increase.
The president of the Cabildo of Tenerife, Rosa Dávila, has insisted on the message that the objective is to relaunch an island that has been “paralyzed” for four years, and that these accounts will allow people and families to be served, allocating 62% of the expenditure to social aspects, while promoting strategic infrastructure projects.
The PSOE spokesperson, Pedro Martín, whose group presented an amendment to the entire budget rejected with the votes of CC, PP and Vox, stated that in these accounts “it is difficult to find an island model.” He has also highlighted that the aid programs for the social services of the town councils are eliminated, there is a territorial imbalance in cultural infrastructures to the detriment of the southern and eastern regions, employment plans with the town councils are cut, fundamental issues are reduced for the primary sector and tourism and there is only a 1% increase for mobility.
Guided transport, he adds, “is not a priority” and neither are bus lanes, according to the PSOE spokesperson, who also stated that resources for equality, diversity and gender violence are reduced.
For his part, the island director of the Treasury, Juan Carlos Pérez Frías, explained that, by area, social action absorbs 26% of the budget, almost 272 million euros, ahead of the 220 million for mobility, of which 93 millions are for roads.
170 million euros are allocated for management of the natural environment, 79 for culture and sports, 52 for the presidency, 50 for industry and the primary sector, 47 for tourism and 34 for employment.
It is expected that at the end of the year the debt, to which 1.9% of the budget is allocated, will stand at 276 million euros, a moderate level given that it is only equivalent to 33% of ordinary resources, Pérez Frías highlighted.
José Miguel Ruano, spokesperson for CC, stated, in line with Dávila’s speech, that the purpose of this budget is to “change things” and get Tenerife out of the “tail car” to “make up for lost time.” “The PSOE limits itself to complaining because we do not apply its program,” said Ruano, who affirmed that the government pact is applying a “solid, stable and interclass” project.
Lope Afonso, first vice president and spokesperson for the PP, assured that this budget is useful for the island and for the people of Tenerife and reflects the determination, ambition and tenacity of the government team.
There are five priorities, Afonso stated: social spending, recovery after the fire, the promotion of economic sectors, territorial cohesion and mobility.
The Vox councilors, Ana Mercedes Salazar and Naím Yánez, considered that the budgets should be “braver” and “forceful” to reverse “the socialist policies” of the last legislature, but they considered that they are “a starting point”, a positive evolution, and contain ingredients to “make a change.”
