The City Council of San Bartolomé has presented its Budgets for 2016, emphasizing social items and its objective of "reducing inequalities." With 17 million, the accounts for next year increase by 9% compared to 2015. In social investment, which the City Council defines as its "commitment and bulwark," all direct aid to families is maintained, some items grow and in some cases are doubled. Municipal public investment is also an important part of the budget, for which 2.3 million are contemplated that "guarantee public contracting." These accounts that are submitted for approval, have highlighted, collect "clearly the political priorities of the Municipal Government team, which are determined by budget increases."
"In an economic crisis context like the current one, the primary objective of the Corporation is to maintain the quality of service levels to citizens without increasing the tax burden," the City Council has highlighted about the new Budgets. "Attention to residents is a priority. The first thing is people and that is reflected in these budgets that govern the political actions to be carried out," said the mayor, María Dolores Corujo, in this regard.
The City Council has highlighted the increase in social aid, in scholarships for university students, expenses for young people, housing, health, culture, sports or those affected by the mortgage. Thus, more than 50% of the budget not committed by the administration's own expenses is allocated to "manifestly social" expenses.
The accounts reserve 140,000 euros for the recovery of 50% of the extra pay of 2014 to officials. Likewise, the item for emergency social aid will increase by 10%, which will become 220,000 euros; 100% for scholarships for university students, which is doubled with a total cost of 90,000 euros and "guaranteeing" a minimum amount per student of 300 euros; "the items dedicated to the educational and cultural field are also doubled, which become more than 400,000 euros." In addition, the accounts include new items, such as the mortgage intermediation office, which the City Council has defined as "a reflection of social policies and government commitment assumed by this mayor and corporation." He also highlighted the "Social IBI", which will have an aid of 117,000 euros.
Municipal investments
The City Council has allocated 2,285,000 euros to the investment chapter. The City Council of San Bartolomé has referred in this sense to its "impulse to investment as an engine of economic reactivation." "We are committed to a municipality of the future, which invests in the renovation and maintenance of its infrastructure," they point out. Thus, budget is foreseen "to invest in all."
These 2.3 million euros will be assumed with "current financing, which highlights, once again, the solvency of municipal finances, without the need to resort to external financing to undertake its own investments," the City Council has pointed out. "These are budget commitments that become exciting when predicting an increase in public works, which aims to provide increasingly greater opportunities to local businesses," they add.
Actions such as an Asphalting/Reasphalting Plan are contemplated, with a total amount of 985,000 euros, or an action of paving and elimination of architectural barriers of various streets of the municipality, with an item of more than 150,00 euros.
Debt Reduction
In these budgets, no new loans are assumed and a large amount of capital from those already subscribed is amortized, "which also reduces the interest accrued by them in the chapter of current expenses for the future, allowing resources to be dedicated to other areas."
"The budget is for recovery, stability and consolidation of the municipality in accordance and coherence with the reality that surrounds us, which will allow us to face the actions that we have established as priorities. We are also proud that it is a solidarity budget. Solidarity with those who have less, with the most disadvantaged, with those who need others the most to get ahead in these moments and that respond to the current moment that a large number of families in our municipality are going through."
On the other hand, the City Council points out that "there is a firm commitment to change our management model in relation to renewable energies, incorporating budget items for a total of 90,000 euros for the renovation of the fleet of municipal vehicles powered by hybrid and electric technology, among others."
"In summary, the current Budget that is submitted for approval is an instrument that allows to cover the basic needs of the Institution, adjusting and adapting the municipal needs to the current economic situation and reducing the debt as a guarantee of security, increasing investments, social policies and quality services that our neighbors deserve," conclude from the City Council.