The plenary assembly of the Tenerife Cabildo approved this Thursday, with votes from CC and PP backing, the opposition from the PSOE, and abstention from Vox, a modification of credit amounting to 96 million euros.
The insular Treasury director, Juan Carlos Pérez Frías, contended that the credit modification is funded by already allocated resources, an increase in revenue, and a credit operation for an amount of 70 million euros which will be added to the budget for 2025 to enhance the investment capacity of the corporation at a time showing indications of “moderation” in economic activity.
Pérez Frías elaborated that this modification includes, among other sections, 300,000 euros for the organisation of a forum on new technologies (which he clarified is distinct from the potential award ceremony for the YouTuber The Grefg that Tenerife aspires to host) as well as one million euros for the development of the technical project to enhance the Adán Martín Auditorium, which could later be assigned to architect Santiago Calatrava if necessitated by the legal claim for damages that the Cabildo has initiated.
He has criticized the socialists for making “little headway” on this matter in the last term, emphasising that it is now essential to take steps to advance the improvement of the Auditorium. It is noteworthy that it was the current government team that prolonged the time for the architect to respond and that now opts to finance the repairs, with the risk of not retrieving that money since the architect denies accountability and attributes the issues to the management of the project.
Furthermore, the modifications include 8.5 million euros for roadworks, 1 million euros for the BUS-HOV lane of the TF-5, 1.8 million euros dedicated to revamping bus stops, 200,000 euros for the establishment of park and ride facilities adjacent to the TF-5, 1.9 million euros for the refurbishment of the Heliodoro Rodríguez López, 3.2 million euros for the construction of the Cidemat, and an additional 3.1 million euros in an agreement with the Icavi aimed at encouraging the construction of housing.
The budget adjustment also includes allocating 5.6 million euros in grants to local councils to assist with connections to the sewage system and another 3.8 million euros, within the Insular Water Council, for various investment initiatives in hydraulic infrastructure.
Additionally, within the Institute of Social and Socio-Health Care (IASS), there are 4.7 million euros allocated, with over 3 million euros designated for improvement projects in its own facilities, alongside 1.2 million euros to undertake the replacement and expansion of the equipment in several IASS-dependent centres.
Other significant actions outlined in the approved budget modification encompass 1.1 million euros for the roadway surrounding the Andrés Orozco school in Arafo, 1.1 million euros for the Fasnia Market, 1.4 million euros allocated to Santa Úrsula City Council for the implementation of the Urban Agenda 2030 pilot project, and 1.4 million euros for Buenavista del Norte City Council aimed at carrying out urgent measures to enhance wastewater treatment, among other investments.
Additionally, 1.5 million euros will be committed to the renovation and upkeep of Youth Houses in Tenerife, 1 million euros for a new rehabilitation programme for industrial estates, 2 million euros for support to councils with fewer than 10,000 residents to avert water leaks, and 2.7 million euros for various projects within the Innovation sector, such as the launch of the ‘Ascending Satellite Constellation’ initiative (1 million euros) and the installation of fibre optic in the TF-1, also for 1 million euros.
Government’s Financing Approach Under Scrutiny
The spokesperson for the Socialist Group, Aarón Afonso, has raised concerns regarding the model adopted by the Government group to facilitate the credit modifications and the loan of 70 million, aimed at “bridging the discrepancies” within the government agreement to enable the approval of next year’s budget.
He stated that the Council’s dedication to the development of public housing is “inadequate”, asserting that 15.5 million should be allocated to initiate a municipal sanitation programme rather than a subsidy scheme, and emphasised the importance of urgently reorganising the intersection in the La Rambla neighbourhood, located in the north of the island, to enhance safety.
Afonso has also criticised the government group’s failure to execute the budget, which has resulted in a shortfall nearing four million from this particular fund. He pointed out that the Cabildo has attempted to “withdraw” by reducing the support amount for The Grefg to 300,000 euros, now awaiting further developments regarding the awards (the socialists initially indicated that the amount was 1.2 million based on the documentation they had reviewed).
Concerning the Auditorium, he accused the Government of “publicly stating one thing” while presenting another in the official documents, and he expressed confusion over the ongoing extensions granted to Calatrava for addressing the damage to the property.
Additionally, he has voiced objections to the cessation of funds earmarked for employment initiatives (despite the Cabildo unveiling a new employment plan worth almost 10 million euros) and the issue of administrative decentralisation.
