The City Council of Santa Cruz de Tenerife saw the 2024 budgets saved with the support of CC and PP, the current governing team, during the extraordinary plenary session of the Corporation. The budget amounts to 374 million euros.
This year’s municipal accounts were rejected by the PSOE, and Vox abstained, citing the budget as “not credible” and “insufficient”. If no objections are presented, the budget will come into force after the 15-day public exhibition period required by law.
José Alberto Díaz-Estébanez, the Councilor for the Treasury, emphasized that the 374 million euros mark a “historical record”, representing a 17.1% increase from the previous year. He promoted an “ambitious” bill, geared towards promoting Santa Cruz around three key pillars.
The mayor highlighted a significant investment of almost 100 million euros, a 50% increase from the previous year, guaranteeing the continuation of ongoing works and the addition of new projects such as the implementation of the Low Emissions Zone (ZBE), the creation of the 100% sustainable Avenue in Francisco la Roche, and the zero discharge plan to the sea.
The focus on social care, with an allocation of almost 30 million, a 10% increase, was emphasized as a continuous investment, tripling the investment in ten years and achieving social excellence compared to other provincial capitals in Spain. The strengthening of public services was also stressed, aiming to improve their efficiency and performance with the budget’s investment.
Meanwhile, Vox spokesperson Alejandro Gómez criticized many budget items as “insufficient”, despite the acceptance of several amendments related to training for employment, healthcare, and sports and cultural activities in the street by the Government team. He expressed surprise at the allocation for “propaganda and advertising”, amounting to more than 1.1 million, including 360,000 for the Development Society and 240,000 euros for Equality. He questioned the excessive figures for the renewal of the sustainable bus fleet and the implementation of the ZBE, which he identified as ideological expenses not addressing the basic needs of citizens.
PSOE spokesperson Patricia Hernández attacked the Treasury councilor, stating that “the accounts not only arrive late but are not credible and do not address citizens’ needs.” She criticized the budget’s lack of response to social problems, describing it as a government that procrastinates.
Hernández pointed out the absence of allocation for public daycare centers, employment plans, mobility infrastructure, or public housing construction, crucial for addressing social issues and reducing citizen debt. She highlighted the budget’s disconnection from social reality, especially when previous budgets were not fully executed.
PP spokesperson and Councilor for Public Services, Carlos Tarife, emphasized the objective to enhance the city by providing more local police officers, improving and creating sports facilities, studying the provision of automatic stairs to neighborhoods, urbanizing industrial estates, and rehabilitating the Guimerá Theater.
In addition to approving the budget for 2024, the plenary session also approved the staffing of municipal personnel and its autonomous organizations, and the modification of the 2023-2024 Strategic Subsidy Plan.
