Benidorm presents a draft budget jumping to 5 million real investment in works and projects
Revenues and expenses are balanced at 93.6 million, almost 12 of which will amortize bank debt
Increase all areas of social spending
Among the projects included are the start of the roundabout of the polygon and the remodeling of Mediterranean avenue
The mayor of Benidorm, Toni Pérez, and the councilor of Treasury, Lourdes Caselles, presented on Friday the draft municipal budget for 2017, which "borders 5 million euros of real investment" in works and projects, All areas related to social spending ".
Both have moved this draft to all municipal groups in a Board of Spokesmen, after yesterday the specialists issued the last report that was pending, relating to Human Resources, and once resolved a few days ago the other two issues that affected the document: the judgment on the price revision of the 2009-2011 period of the garbage and cleaning contract, and the contribution to be made to the Consorcio de Aguas de la Marina Baixa for a possible purchase of water. These issues were not minor, since their impact on the budget exceeded 7 million.
Pérez explained that the income and expenditure budgets "are balanced," at 93,638,954.72 euros. In the expenses section, 12% -11,245,000 euros - will pay "public debt", when beginning "to give back strongly the loans of the plan of payment to suppliers"; While the real investments in works and projects stand at 4,634,849.18 euros. To this amount must be added those included in the chapter of current expenditure and also referred to works, such as 150,000 euros to continue with the rehabilitation of the former Pensioner's Home.
Among the most outstanding investments are the 1.6 million euros that will go to the construction of the roundabout and access road to the industrial estate, or 750,000 euros for the remodeling of Mediterranean avenue. The mayor clarified that these are two multi-year works, and added that the works on the avenue would begin in the last quarter of the year as soon as the projects are concrete on how it should be that remodeling.
It is also important the € 375,000 item included for the Parque de la Séquia Mare; and the 379,824.28 euros for the pedestrianization of Gerona street between Orts Llorca and Esperanto, work only pending adjudication; and 150,000 euros for performances of Historical Heritage. In addition, and following the line of the budget of 2016, will destine 400,000 euros to advance in the objective of Smart Tourist Destination; 100,000 euros for universal accessibility; And 50,000 for the asphalting of streets.
More investments, in detail
Continuing with the investments, the mayor highlighted the inclusion of two works linked to services provided by the regional government: the Leonor Canalejas school and the Rincón de Loix health center. Thus, the budget collects 75,000 euros for the demolition of the block of teachers' homes closed in the school; And 45,000 euros to improve the facilities of the health center, while continuing to work for the Ministry of Health to start construction of the new center.
Within the block of investments "the proposals and motions approved in full and presented by the different opposition groups have been taken into account." 150,000 euros have been included for the Plan for the Improvement of Sports Facilities -motion of C's-; 45,199 euros, for the placement of ecological buoys -C's-; 5,000 euros, for the creation of lactation rooms in the City Hall - PSOE; And 55,000 euros for improvement works in the Parque de l'Aigüera -Compromís.
Likewise, the budget includes the remnants of some works begun in 2016 as the pedestrianization of Tomás Ortuño's stretch between La Garita and Mercado; The SATE, Tourism Office and the Local Police of Rincón; or the construction of a multi-sport track in l'Aigüera and the improvements in mobility and accessibility in Salto del Agua - both proposed by the CBM group.
In 2017 it is also planned to invest 40,000 euros in the cemetery Virgen del Sufragio; And cover the percentage corresponding to the City Council by the Energy Saving Plan of the Diputación -52,800 euros.
In addition to investments in works and projects, Chapter 2 of the budget provides for the contribution of 500,000 euros to the Fundación Visit Benidorm, an amount that was expected to arrive in 2019. The provision for the Local Police until reaching 100,000 euros; The aid to the Protective Society of Animals and Plants is increased by 25% -40,000 euros; 90,000 euros are reserved for subsidies for sports clubs, which must be chosen in competitive competition; Another 300,000 for the movements of these equipment; And they maintain the 260,000 euros for the Club Handball Benidorm.
Participatory Budgets
It is also important the amount that is dedicated to participatory budgets, 235,000 euros, which represent "something more than 5%" of real investments "that marks the self-regulation. The mayor advanced that it is waiting for the Neighborhood Council to decide what actions it wants to be further developed and voted by citizens in Assembly, and whose viability has been informed by the technicians.
Plenary debate
Pérez said that within the same Board of Spokesmen has discussed the possibility that the debate of the budget is included in the regular plenary on 27 February, so that municipal groups have a little more than two weeks to Study the accounts and "transfer their proposals and initiatives"; An invitation that the mayor has been reiterating whenever he has been asked for the draft presented today.