Yesterday, the Candelaria Town Hall approved its budget for this year in an extraordinary session. It will manage finances of 30 million Euros, a 10.21% increase from 2023. The budget was approved with the votes in favour of the PSOE government group (11) and the abstentions of the opposition formed by PP, CC, and Vox (9).
In Social Services, the investment amounts to nearly 2 million Euros with the creation of items such as a new service to alleviate the social isolation of the elderly with 88,000 Euros. There is also a provision of 102,000 Euros for actions in the prevention and integration of children and families. There is also an increase in funding for the rehabilitation of essential housing (20,512 Euros), home care (461,422), or the Tasks Club project (26,965 Euros), while the allocation of 120,000 Euros to the food bank remains.
The budget includes a significant increase in the cleaning and waste collection service, whose contract was awarded earlier this year, amounting to four million Euros. Meanwhile, in the Festivals area, the budget amounts to one million Euros, representing a 57% increase. Items such as the village celebrations (225,000), which are due to the rising costs of infrastructure for the development of activities, have seen an increase.
Security and public order also increase their forecast by 8.4%. Healthcare (+43.97%) also increases thanks to enhanced services such as pet feeding, awareness campaigns and training, and animal shelters. In Culture, Canary Identity and Youth budgets decrease slightly (-0.35%) with specific items for actions widely accepted by citizens such as Little Culture, Street Culture, By the Seashore, Canarst, or Clarinet fest. Additionally, a new allocation has been created in Canary Identity to commemorate the Ánimas and Finaos celebrations in October.
Furthermore, in Public Works and Services, the forecast grows by 23.8%, surpassing one million Euros. In this same area, there is an investment of nearly 50,000 for the lighting and air conditioning of the Citizen Service, Library of La Villa, and related facilities. The Natural Environment sees another increase, in this case by 40%. It amounts to 27,000 Euros, earmarked for the network of trails, Los Brezos Recreational Park, and activities with educational centres.
Subsidies for the Local Production Market Association and the Fishermen’s Guild are included in Rural Development and Fisheries Development, with increased allocations to enhance and vitalise the Pier and Fishermen’s Centre, amounting to 34,000 Euros. Sports now have a budget of 989,017 Euros. Furthermore, significant investments will be made through the treasury surplus, including works to improve facilities worth over 130,000 Euros.
Commerce and Tourism decrease by 55%. In this regard, the Town Hall has the Sustainable Tourism Plan in Destination Candelaria Viva, for which a grant of 2,950,000 Euros has been obtained for execution.
