The Municipal Budget for 2022 amounts to 19,464,390 euros, with a 7.66% increase compared to the previous one and with “social aid, employment or works” as “key aspects. A document “so that San Miguel de Abona continues to move and we continue to be the best municipality to live and invest in,” reflects the mayor, Arturo González. Still marked by the health, social and economic crisis derived from the pandemic, it delves into “protection and social promotion as priority and necessary policies for people who demand aid and employment.” For the reactivation of the economy and of social life itself, an investment plan is proposed in all neighborhoods, with the reinforcement of educational, cultural and sports activities. All conditioned to the evolution of the covid.
Taxes and fees.
That of 2022 is a budget that, for yet another year, freezes municipal taxation, contemplating exempting or subsidizing rates and taxes taking into account the circumstances of the pandemic, “whenever the legislation allows it, as was done in 2021.”
Social protection
The area has three million, the highest amount in its history. Social emergency has 348,500 euros; another 925,000 correspond to employment and training, with the forecast of hiring 150 people through plans and agreements; study grants receive 200,000 euros. Equality, the elderly, assistance to dependents and contributions to social groups (Atelsam is incorporated) complete this chapter.
Economic reactivation.
With no financial debt, with a City Council “completely healthy that will allow us to incorporate the remaining treasury into this Budget”, San Miguel reserves 14.5 million for works and defined investments. The purpose is to boost the local economy and help reduce unemployment.
Investments.
To the 14.5 million euros of the remainder is added more than one million reflected as investments. It will be used in a set of works already designed and approved, of which last year jobs worth 6,400,000 were awarded. This year 1.2 million are reflected to condition the coastline and access to the sea on the Hoya del Gusanito waterfront; 6.7 million are allocated to build the Llano del Camello Sports Complex (future municipal swimming pool), the lighting of the Pedro Alonso Alayón (Aldea Blanca) and Paco Tejera (urban area) football fields, as well as the roof of the Tomas field González Martín; 600,000 euros to develop, resurface and pave Fermín Pérez Street (El Frontón) and redevelop the central sector of Guargacho.
Spending at the Guargacho Senior Center and the Teachers’ lodging resource (Tamaide) amounts to more than one million. Investments total 1.6 million to adapt the collector system in Llano del Camello and the potable water deposit in the lower zone; 260,000 euros will be used to provide accessibility to pedestrian routes in Las Chafiras, Aldea Blanca and Las Zocas, the Multipurpose Social Center in San Miguel Casco (Youth House) and the La Hoya Agricultural Road.
Improvement for the efficiency and energy saving of public lighting in Cruz Ballena, Las Zocas and Tamaide, the installation of photovoltaic panels in municipal buildings and the supply of photovoltaic street lamps in Golf del Sur (1.4 million); the acquisition of patrimonial land (600,000 euros); Actions in parks and gardens, the pavement of the Guargacho and Jonay Risco Pérez sports centers, urban furniture and the purchase of sports equipment and signage (one million) are included in the list of investments, which will increase with European funds to which they aspire the projects for the sanitation and supply of Guargacho and the wastewater collectors of Chafiras-Llano del Camello, valued at six million.
The PSOE criticizes the content and attitude
The Municipal Socialist Group maintains that the Budget of San Miguel de Abona for 2022 «does not generate public employment, does not respond to neighborhood demands, does not take into account what was contributed by political parties throughout 2021, does not recognize the proposals and the Plenary agreements repeat investments that have been dragging on since 2020. Therefore, good management or innovation is not appreciated ”. Criticizes that the opposition political groups (PSOE, Ciudadanos and PP) “were summoned just one week in advance”, which follows that the government (Canary Coalition) “does not facilitate the work of the rest of the municipal Corporation” . The Socialists accuse the mayor, Arturo González, of adjourning the session “without granting a reply to the opposition, despite the fact that the three parties repeatedly requested their right to do so.” In the opinion of the PSOE, “these forms of non-participatory politics (…) show that not only are political groups not being listened to, but also that residents who express their concerns through them are not taken into account. political options ».
