The Cabildo of Lanzarote has closed the settlement of the 2024 budget, highlighting "responsible management, aimed at reducing debt, investing in social welfare, promoting access to housing, improving public services and financing water matters, as well as strategic projects in all the island's municipalities."
The president of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, Oswaldo Betancort, stressed that "we have worked intensely with the firm purpose of responding to the real needs of all citizens of Lanzarote and La Graciosa, through a management in which we have focused the investment effort seeking a positive impact that reverts to the improvement of the quality of life of the population."
The vice president and Minister of Finance, María Jesús Tovar, stressed that the economic management of the current term "reflects a clear roadmap: planning, agility and commitment to what is truly important." "We fulfill the responsibility of governing with efficiency and social sensitivity," she asserted.
Among other actions, in terms of housing, the Cabildo has made a historic investment of more than 13 million euros, with the acquisition of two plots, in Arrecife and Uga, which will be transferred to the Canarian Housing Institute, as well as the purchase of 42 homes in Playa Blanca worth 9.3 million euros, which will also be used for affordable rent.
In addition, the Cabildo has formalized the social agreements, thus guaranteeing long-term social and health care, ensuring stability for the most vulnerable groups. In terms of education, the allocation of study grants has been significantly increased, expanding the number of beneficiaries and reinforcing support for families. Likewise, strategic commissions have also been promoted for the legal planning of the different land management instruments of the island that will allow progress in a more efficient, coordinated and technical management of the territory.
On the other hand, in the primary sector, key infrastructures such as the island slaughterhouse have been supported, contributing to the development of local agriculture and livestock with necessary investments to guarantee their continuity and modernization.
Likewise, the capital subsidy to the Diocese of the Canary Islands for 8 million euros has also been formalized for the future construction of a residence in the Altavista area, in addition to more than 433,000 euros to social associations for investments related to the improvement of infrastructure and equipment.
Within the framework of the commitment to municipalism, the Cabildo has granted 1.4 million euros to the seven town councils to promote the consumption and production of local products, in addition to 6.8 million euros in additional subsidies for accessibility works in the municipalities.
On the other hand, the budget has allowed to continue strengthening security and emergency management, with more than 2.5 million euros transferred to the Security and Emergency Consortium for the acquisition of new vehicles and other operational actions.
Likewise, a capital subsidy of 6.3 million euros has been transferred to the Insular Water Council for the modernization of irrigation in the northeast area, in the municipality of Tinajo. The Cabildo has also continued to promote socio-economic development with subsidies in various areas such as sports, agriculture, fishing, renewable energy and the environment, consolidating a transversal management focused on people. In addition, outstanding invoices from previous years have been paid, updating accounts with suppliers and strengthening trust with the island's business community.
"This settlement confirms that we are at the head of an institution that not only executes well, but does so with purpose, with social sensitivity and with a vision for the future. Lanzarote can trust in a rigorous and useful economic management," concluded the president, Oswaldo Betancort.
