The Governing Council of the Cabildo of Lanzarote has given the green light, this Thursday, to the draft General Budget for the year 2025, which amounts to 209,141,960.60 euros, which represents an increase of 10.47% compared to 2024.
Therefore, these accounts reflect the largest economic injection in the history of the Corporation, thus continuing with the objective of improving the quality of life of the residents of Lanzarote and La Graciosa. In this sense, the budget is sustained by different fundamental axes, among which are the improvement of the water network of both islands; the promotion of access to housing; the protection of the territory and the advancement of island planning; the coverage of the most vulnerable social sectors; the improvement of security and the promotion of physical activity and sports.
The president of the Cabildo of Lanzarote has highlighted that "this budget is a fundamental tool to continue advancing in the improvement of the quality of life of the citizens of Lanzarote and La Graciosa, betting on a model of sustainable growth, the optimization of resources, in order to effectively and realistically face the challenges that Lanzarote and La Graciosa currently face, always respecting the environment and the differentiated identity that we have as an island."
For her part, the vice president and councilor of Finance and Contracting, María Jesús Tovar, describes these accounts as "a before and after in the history of the Corporation." "From the area of Finance and Contracting we have collected the requests of the different areas of the Government and we have prepared these accounts that will positively impact the lives of the citizens of both islands," she asserted.
Improvement of the water network and promotion of housing
The improvement of the water network of Lanzarote and La Graciosa has been a clear objective of this Government Group from day one. Therefore, after the declaration of the water emergency last January, the Cabildo of Lanzarote, together with the Insular Water Consortium, will allocate more than 30 million euros to execute projects that improve said network.
Specifically, through the Canary Islands Development Fund (FDCAN), the injection of more than 13 million euros is planned in different projects that will set up the island's water network, while another 21 million euros from the Insular Water Consortium will be allocated to a total of 13 projects that will begin in 2025 and will be developed through multi-year plans.
Among these thirteen projects that will begin throughout this year are the recovery of the 10,000 cubic meter frame of the Lanzarote III Plant, valued at 6.5 million euros; or the rehabilitation of frame 4 of the Lanzarote IV Plant, which amounts to almost 2 million euros, as well as renovation, expansion and improvement works of the supply and sanitation networks of the islands of Lanzarote and La Graciosa, for an amount close to 3.5 million euros, among others.
Another of the fundamental axes of this budget is the promotion of access to housing, as demonstrated last year with the purchase of land and built homes to allocate them to social and affordable rentals for the resident population. In this year, the Cabildo of Lanzarote will increase by 200% the item allocated to facilitate access to housing, with one million euros more than last year.
Social Welfare
The accounts for the next year maintain the Cabildo's commitment to the area of Social Welfare, reinforcing the protection of the most vulnerable sectors with an increase of 31.88%, reaching 15.9 million euros. In addition, the start of the construction of a new high-demand residence in Tahiche and the acquisition of new properties to improve care for dependent people is planned.
The programs of prevention and promotion of mental health will also be reinforced, with special attention to youth, and the +VITAL program, aimed at improving the quality of life of the elderly, will be consolidated.
Planning and protection of the territory
In territorial policy, resources are allocated to advance in territorial planning, with the advancement of key documents such as the Island Planning Plan, the Special Plan for the Protected Landscape of La Geria and the Use and Management Plans of Los Volcanes and the Chinijo Archipelago, among others.
In this case, the allocation of funds to guarantee the ordering of the territory and a balanced development of the island will grow by 66.10%. In the same line, in the area of Environment there is also a growth in the year 2025, in this case of 14.20%.
Promotion of employment
On the other hand, the Cabildo of Lanzarote "continues working on the improvement and promotion of employment in both islands." For this, it has been increased by 11.54% compared to the previous year, destined to employment plans and the promotion of entrepreneurship, among others.
Commitment to education, culture and sports
Education, culture and sports are also fundamental pillars in the 2025 budget: investment in education has been increased by 24.26%, with new study grants and professional guidance programs; in addition, 6.1 million euros will be allocated to cultural promotion, promoting initiatives that facilitate access to culture and art on the island.
In the sports field, the budget grows by 28.24%, reinforcing collaboration with the town councils and promoting access to physical activity and sports, in addition to an increase of almost 7% in the area of Youth.
The Cabildo also bets on supporting strategic sectors such as commerce, crafts, industry and energy. In this sense, funds for crafts are increased by 37.64%, ensuring the conservation of cultural heritage and the promotion of the sector. Likewise, a growth of 36.30% has been foreseen in the allocation for local commerce, with specific programs for economic revitalization. In the energy field, energy efficiency policies and the promotion of renewable energies are reinforced, in line with the Cabildo's sustainability strategy.
Lanzarote and La Graciosa, increasingly "safer and more protected"
Regarding security and emergencies, the budget contemplates an increase of one million euros in the contribution to the Emergency Consortium, which will allow the incorporation of new personnel and the improvement of operational resources. In fact, this autonomous body approved in October the highest budget in its history, exceeding 8 million euros.
In terms of strategic infrastructures, the budget contemplates an investment of 6.9 million euros in the new composting plant in the Zonzamas Environmental Complex. In fact, it should be noted that the Waste area increases by 1.6 million euros, which represents an increase of 15.16%.
Transport and road network
20 million euros will also be allocated to the improvement of the existing island road network, with funding from European funds.
Likewise, an increase of 38.14% has been foreseen in the resources destined to the improvement of public transport, thus following in line with the island Government's commitment to the improvement of the network and the efficiency of buses at the island level.
Promotion of the primary sector, Energy and Industry
In the field of agriculture, livestock, fishing, hunting and food sovereignty, the Cabildo of Lanzarote will allocate resources to the improvement of the facilities of the experimental farm and the expansion of agricultural structures, as well as to the promotion of livestock and the support of vine cultivation, which in addition to its economic importance, has a positive impact on the preservation of the island landscape.
In this sense, budget forecasts are increased in chapter 2 by 382,240.55 euros compared to 2024, maintaining credits in terms of transfers at 700,000 euros.
In addition, the Department of Landscape and Food Sovereignty is working to promote projects that integrate the landscape from a global vision, which contemplates both natural and cultural aspects, promoting well-being and reinforcing the relationship between human beings and the environment. For this, 511,481.75 euros will be allocated in 2025, which represents an increase of 37.78% compared to the previous year.
Regarding fishing, a fundamental sector in the history of Lanzarote and La Graciosa, the First Corporation has decided to double the budget allocated to its maintenance and development. In 2025, 883,141.35 euros will be allocated, which represents an increase of 20.53% compared to 2024, thus allowing the promotion of measures that guarantee its sustainability and competitiveness in the future.
This budget will go in the next few days to the finance committee to, subsequently, be debated in the next plenary session of the Cabildo of Lanzarote for its initial approval.
"With this budget, we are betting on a more just, inclusive and sustainable Lanzarote and La Graciosa, with greater well-being for the citizens and a clear roadmap towards the advancement of both islands and the well-being of the population of Lanzarote and La Graciosa," concluded the president of the Cabildo, Oswaldo Betancort.