The budget approved this Tuesday by the Plenary of the Tías City Council, with the favorable vote of PSOE, Podemos and Lava and the absence of the opposition, amounts to 25,411,848 euros, with an increase of 5.42% compared to 2021. The government group highlights that the accounts are directed "towards economic revitalization, promotion of employment, recovery of the tourism and commercial industry and the consolidation of social action policies", whose item has increased "30% since the beginning of this legislature".
“Fortunately, we have been able to save and we have been able to execute those savings, since last year we executed more than 5 million euros from the treasury surplus and we achieved employment agreements of 2.5 million euros, for which we hired 169 people. For this year we continue to bet on the social and competitive reactivation of the municipality”, says the mayor of the municipality, José Juan Cruz.
The mayor highlights the "investments" chapter, which will be executed thanks to the treasury surplus estimated at 6,972,617 euros and also with "financing and subsidies from other administrations". In this section, he explains that it includes "the renovation of the wake, with 412,410 euros; the work on the roof of the sports hall, budgeted at 477,908 euros; and the works in the socio-cultural centers of Mácher, for 317,257 euros, Masdache for 373,443 euros and Conil for 336,986 euros".
Among the "dozens of projects" and works budgeted for 2022, the Consistory highlights "the creation of the La Calderina-Mácher roundabout, with a budget of 1,092,100 euros, the work on the pavilion of the Tías Sports City, with an investment of 2,267,444 euros, or the space for Youth, with 50,000 euros".
They also highlight the "numerous projects" of energy efficiency: new public lighting in Conil for 1,215,790 euros; the modernization of public lighting on Teide street and surroundings for 408,464 euros; Avenida de las Playas, from the Matagorda area to Noruega street, for 321,640 euros; or streets such as César Manrique, Tanausú, Costa Rica, Folías, Doramas and Princesa Ico for 480,728 euros". They also announce from the City Council the continuation of the "replacement of sodium vapor lamps with LED light points following the climatic recommendations of the Covenant of Mayors".
The Councilor for Finance, Tomás Silvera, points out that these budgets are "realistic, with rigor and accounting prudence”, and that they stand out for "efficiency in public spending and its marked social character". "The increase registered is due to the increase in the participation of state taxes and the effective collection of the Real Estate Tax in the tourism sector, two important measures thanks to the national and regional governments,” adds the mayor.
Silvera maintains that the "good collection rate" reflects the "gradual recovery of the economy in the municipality", and assures that the main axes of the budget are "Social Welfare, Employment Plans, Public Works and Tourism". “Our priority is basic public services and people”, he adds.
Other items of the City Council
The Tías City Council assures that it is the only one on the island that reflects in its budgets "a specific item to celebrate LGTBI pride", and this year a specific item appears for the first time for "individual athletes". Likewise, they emphasize that it should not be forgotten that "about 128 projects have been presented in relation to the European Next Generation funds".
The first deputy mayor, Mame Fernández, points out that this budget is a reflection of the tripartite government program, which also bets "on robust planning in the tourism sector, the economic engine of the municipality". "The City Council has the Sustainable Tourism Plan project, Lanzarote the energy of the Earth, budgeted at 4,950,000 euros and processed by the Cabildo Insular de Lanzarote", says the mayor.
In addition, they point out from the Consistory that they are processing "the III Modernization Plan of Puerto del Carmen", as well as the "Dynamization Plan for Innovation and Quality of the Complementary Offer of Puerto del Carmen" and the "Tourism Intelligence System", projects that will continue to position Puerto del Carmen as a "safe quality tourist destination".
The second deputy mayor, Nicolás Saavedra, emphasizes the increase in the social action item "by almost 30% since 2019". “The grants chapter increases by 78,000 euros, accommodating new cultural and youth associations and, therefore, reaching a greater part of the population”, he specifies.
Nicolás Saavedra elaborates on the need to "consolidate and promote" projects in the area of "social exclusion, equality, family, active aging, minors at risk, LGTBI groups, etc.", from a model of "community and transversal intervention" through the execution of preventive and assistance actions, whose nature is based on "reducing the probabilities of a potential problem occurring". "The construction of promotion and protection networks is sought that provide collective responses to common objectives", adds the mayor.
In addition, from the Consistory they point out that they are promoting spaces for "information, coordination and collaboration" between the different social agents of the community, such as "the Health Promotion Table, the Municipal Table against Gender Violence or the Educational Training Plan for Mothers and Fathers", that improve knowledge and attention to social needs.
The Tías City Council announces, finally, that it will continue especially with "the intervention and guidance projects for people in situations of social exclusion", offering a reception, guidance, accompaniment, training and inclusion service for people in situations of social exclusion aimed especially at groups "such as people evicted or at risk of eviction and homeless people, among others".