The Governing Council of Cabildo of Tenerife has initially approved the draft budget for 2022 amounting to 772,002,022 euros. The consolidated figure, which includes the entire island public sector, including public entities and companies, amounts to 863,583,327 euros. President, Pedro Martin, highlights: «We have planned some accounts to confront with solvency the social and economic recovery and promote the Island with a focus on three issues: the protection of the most fragile people and groups, the strengthening of economic activity and the generation of employment and the execution and completion of works and infrastructures on which we are already working this year ”.
Martín values that «for the third consecutive year, the government team shows its commitment to the social and economic advancement of the Island, of the people and of all the municipalities, with special attention to those that most require the assistance of the Cabildo ». He gives as an example “the plan by which the municipalities of less than 20,000 inhabitants will once again receive an extraordinary contribution of funds to carry out public works and generate employment throughout the Island.”
The initial consolidated budget, before any item can be incorporated into the process until final approval, is slightly lower than in 2021 when it was 894,426,200 euros, which at that time was 3.8% more than in 2020 when it amounted to 861,364,941 euros.
Specifically, 772,002,022 euros, which rises to 863,583,327, in the consolidated budget, which includes the entire island public sector.
Focus on the social area.
The president emphasizes the significant increase in the budget allocated to the social area, in order to strengthen the management system through the modernization of structures, innovation and the reinforcement of personnel. “The Insular Institute for Social and Social Health Care (IASS) is now 20 years old,” says Martín, adding: “In this time its budget has tripled but the engine that drives it, the personnel it manages, has not grown. Therefore, it is a priority to provide it with more and better resources so that we can offer better quality social services ». The increase in the items earmarked for the IASS next year will reach almost 9%. Pedro Martín adds that the Tourism area will also be strengthened with a growth of 4.5% in specific items for promotion that allow “to continue leading air connectivity in the Canary Islands and promote agreements with first-line airlines.”
Infrastructures.
Regarding infrastructures, the president highlights the investment in the execution of the bulk of the works that are already underway to increase the flow of traffic on the TF-5, such as the burying of the La Esperanza highway and the execution of the elevated platform at the Padre Anchieta roundabout, in addition to the resurfacing work on TF-1 and TF-5 “in which we invested an amount close to 30 million euros.” The incorporation of new buses in 2022 will also improve the provision of public transport services on the Island.
More money for scholarships.
Another of the reinforced areas is Education and Youth, whose budget will grow by 8.5%. The appropriations related to scholarships for university studies and those for special education stand out. Also, the area. Presidency, Finance and Modernization will have an item of 4.4%, higher than that, specifically, will be used to consolidate the Modernization process (+ 12%) undertaken by the Cabildo and which translates into a notable improvement in public service which is provided to citizens, companies and institutions, in addition to being an important boost to the modernization of the 31 Town Halls.
Percentage in which the item for Modernization increases, key for the Government. It benefits municipalities with less than 20,000 inhabitants.
Services and Projects.
Investments in Management of the Natural Environment and Safety are increased for the improvement of the provision of services and the start-up of new projects, in addition to those planned for Sustainable Development and the Fight Against Climate Change, where the expenses related to the new waste management contract, the new points clean throughout the Island, the Office of Renewable Energies is strengthened and various actions are planned in terms of sustainability.
Outstretched hand.
The president points out that after approval by the Governing Council, the budgets for 2022 will be submitted to the proposals of the political groups. He anticipates that “the government team reaches out to all the contributions that improve the text for the benefit of the citizens and the advancement of the Island, with an eye only to the social, economic and employment recovery.” The island budgets are expected to be taken to the plenary session on December 22 for approval.
Conference on European funds
The Cabildo and the Novagob Foundation organize the Local Administration in Resilience conference in order to analyze the consequences that the management of Next Generation European funds, destined for post-pandemic economic recovery, has for local corporations. The initiative will reveal the transformations to be undertaken and their timing. The meeting will be held on December 3 at the Tenerife Auditorium, from 09:00 to 14:00. The Minister of the Presidency, Finance and Modernization, Berta Pérez, underlines its importance “since there will be direct information from the Ministries, as well as from the regional Executive.” Pérez recalls “the work of the last two years, through the Insular Modernization Plan, especially in terms of digital transformation.” The Next Generation funds have a total investment of 750,000 million euros in the EU and Spain corresponds to 140,000. The conference is aimed at public officials and employees, as well as private sector companies. Another objective is that the local Corporations know how to articulate these funds.
