The Plenary of Tenerife Council initially approves its budget for 2024with votes in favor of Canarian Coalition, Popular Party – they form the island Government – and Vox (Mixed Group), and against the PSOE. The “greenest and most social in its history”, according to the government group; with many shortcomings for the main opposition, the socialist, who amended it in its entirety. This global correction was rejected by 20 votes from CC, PP and Vox, which saw 2.4 million approved to add to next year’s accounts, of the three that had been proposed. The debate draws two diametrically opposed positions, plagued by reproaches on both sides about “what was not done and what will not be done.” The 1,041 million from the General Budget and the 1,138 from the Consolidated Budget, which includes dependent entities and autonomous organizations – such as the IASS or Titsa, which together bring together 3,500 workers – emphasize the sustainability of “people and the environment” with the mobility and recovery after the August forest fire as major axes.
The numbers were broken down in detail by the insular director of the Treasury, Juan Carlos Pérez Frías. Before, the PSOE, with the voice of its new-old spokesperson, Aarón Afonso, questioned the form of the session with respect to “the first time”, in which the approval of the budget is separate from that of the staff. Plenary and Intervention Secretariat report favorably, after recess, to clarify ideas and legal-administrative positions. Then, once settled, the full accounting begins in earnest. The approved document increases by almost 10 percent (9.9%, specifically) compared to the previous year, “exceeding 1,000 million euros for the first time in the history of the island institution,” according to what the government group itself advertises.
The president. Rosa Davila explains that the budgets are designed to “relaunch an Island paralyzed for four years, undermined by political instability and with strategic investments recovered for the future of Tenerife». He values that “in just 100 days we have been able to present them and that, for the first time, they can be executed from January 1, 2024; “This way we can have more resources.” He insists that “they serve people, since 62% is allocated to social matters”, in addition to “tripling the money for Youth, increasing the money for Equality and Diversity, the amounts allocated to young people and scholarships.” Or “relaunch sectors such as the industrial sector and give it importance and not demonize others, as was done in the previous mandate for tourism, which is the engine of Tenerife. Dávila concludes: “Relaunch Tenerife’s economy and get it out of the tailgate in which it was to make up for lost time.”
Five priorities. Along the same lines, the vice president, Lope Afonso, defends the economic document because it responds to five priority aspects: attention to people, recovery after the fire, boosting economic sectors, improving social and territorial cohesion and the answer to mobility problems. «They are accounts that seek to be useful for Tenerife and for its citizens“, summarizes. And he adds: “We have been tenacious to reconcile them with the objectives of the governance agreement between CC and PP.”
Detailed. The insular director of the Treasury, Juan Carlos Pérez, highlights the work on “healthy, highly executed, realistic and prudent” accounts, he emphasizes, “given the scenario of economic and financial uncertainty.” On several occasions he reiterates that “these budgets do not incorporate credit transfers from the regional or state Executive and only contemplate own resources, so there is room for growth.” He defends them as “the most social and green” with a commitment to “a diversified industrial sector and sustainable mobility.”
Remember, like the CC spokesperson, José Miguel Ruano, who alluded to the negative legacy of the previous mandate of the PSOE as the main argument, that “38% of the budget is allocated to economic activities: tourism and commitment to economic diversification, industrial and agricultural sectors.” The head of the Treasury details the main actions by area for almost an hour and a half. The intensity of this flow of numbers was such that President Dávila thanked the sign interpreters for their translation. To begin with, 271.8 million euros in Social Action, which represents 26.1% of the 2024 budget. The Institute of Social and Socio-Health Care (IASS) “is experiencing a notable increase in its resources, by more than 17 million, until reaching 278.
Socio-sanitary places. Regarding the social and health care places in Garachico, La Matanza or the La Cuesta Care Center for Mentally Handicapped (CAMP), in addition to new projects in Arona and Vilaflor, there was controversy with the PSOE and what was done – or not – in the previous mandate (mandate , not legislature). Also about the increase – or not – in amounts for the Gender Violence Units, emergency devices and accommodation resources that “go from 1.9 to 2.4 million euros”, according to some. The island government highlights the implementation of a “Itinerant” resource for the prevention of gender violence in the rural world.
The recurring debate comes in the area of Mobility and Roads, which will have 220.5 million, of which a total of 127.5 will be managed by Mobility and 93 will be for Roads. In addition, 400,000 are allocated to promote public transport and the beginning of the expansion of the tram network; the acquisition of 247 new buses, of which 147 are already to be delivered –without the bank credit from the previous mandate, they insist–; the paving of the TF-1 and other roads and 3.2 million for the Anchieta footbridge, which “will be completed.” Another notable issue, and again with controversy, was that of the deposit checks, Barrios for the Employmentthe Natural Environment or the Primary Sector with special dedication to recovering the effects of the August forest fire.
The government team focuses on 1.1 million euros to promote the Port of Puerto de la Cruz; the city of cinema or the Granadilla hydrogen plant. The budget also includes the investment of two million euros for the improvement of the Heliodoro Rodríguez López and 1.1 for the cooling of the Santiago Martín pavilion, among other actions.
To the totality. Pedro Martin, spokesperson for the PSOE, recalls that, in addition to the amendment to the entirety for “turning its back on the municipalities and not providing resources for mobility”, the socialist group presented 50 partial ones, of which only “one and a half” were accepted. The support to the Unión Canario Venezolana collective for essential basic products, for 100.00 euros, and 225.00 of the 8000.00 requested for the reform of the El Ravelo Animal Shelter.
Vox congratulates himself. Vox, whose councilors showed in front of their seats a sign with the message Amnesty NO, is congratulated for incorporating 2.4 million euros of the approximately three that they proposed. They are aimed at strengthening collaboration with smaller municipalities, in addition to improving items in tourist, road, social action or infrastructure related to the primary sector and aimed at covering the needs for the rehabilitation of the Valle de Güímar Industrial Estate. With hardly any ideological allusions. Tenerife already has budgets for 2024. May they be for the good of all. Or, at least, the majority.
Diary of an extraordinary session
Memory
Jerónimo Saavedra
Respectful minute of silence, culminated with applause and before beginning the plenary session, in memory of Jerónimo Saavedra.
Farewell
Berta Pérez, to Madrid
Another socialist, Berta Pérez, leaves the Cabildo to go to Madrid and occupy an Undersecretary of State. On Wednesday she will make it effective in an extraordinary plenary session. She will be replaced by Priscila de León, who was already a councilor in the previous term. This Monday Candelaria León was missing, sick.
