The Cabildo of Lanzarote has definitively approved the budget for the year 2024 in the plenary session held this Thursday. "Lanzarote and La Graciosa face an exciting year with a budget that fully covers the needs and expectations of the two islands," said the president of the Corporation, Oswaldo Betancort.
The Minister of Finance and Contracting, María Jesús Tovar, also celebrated the final approval of this year after the period of public display and allegations established by law.
"These accounts reflect an increase of 11.13% compared to the previous year's budget, which translates into a budget of 250 million euros once the Autonomous Bodies, Consortiums, the Public Business Entity and the rest of the identities are added," he added.
The final approval, as happened in the initial one, was achieved with the favorable vote of the Government Group, formed by the councilors of the Canarian Coalition and the Popular Party, and the vote against the PSOE group and the Mixed Group.
More than 20% of the budget in social matters
It should be remembered that the budget, without counting the autonomous bodies, amounts to 189,320,779.84 euros, of which 23.71% corresponds to the area of Social Welfare. This percentage represents an amount allocated that exceeds 40,000,000 euros of annual budget, 6.3 million more than the previous year.
The areas of Agriculture and Livestock experience an increase of 1.2 million euros compared to the previous year, along with others that also experience increases such as Fisheries, with 732,725 euros of increase compared to 2023; Hunting with an increase of 217,000 euros compared to the previous year; and Food Sovereignty and Landscape, with an increase in resources allocated worth 371,230 euros.
The Cabildo of Lanzarote also continues with its commitment to Culture, Employment and the promotion of Public Works. Regarding Culture, it should be noted that it increases by 1,083,635 euros compared to 2023; in Employment 9.26% compared to 2023; and in Education, 6% more budget that will be reflected in the increase in scholarships and study grants.
The Department of Public Works and Project Planning continues betting on the improvement of the island's roads and the execution of works either through the Canary Islands Development Funds (FDCAN) or other funds from the Government of the Canary Islands or the State (European Funds), considerably increasing the item allocated to this work.
The territorial scope is another of the key elements for the Cabildo of Lanzarote, so the budget has been increased to carry out different projects such as the "PE of the Protected Landscape of La Geria" (with a draft presented in this month of March), "PORN of Los Volcanes", "PRUG of Los Volcanes", "PRUG of the Chinijo Archipelago", and the "Island Plan and Project of Insular Interest Palacio de Congresos".
In addition, the credit in the budget has also been increased in important areas for the operation of the island such as Industry and Energy (almost 75% more in 2024); Crafts with a budget of 427,755.92 euros; Commerce with a planned credit of 551,675 euros or Animal Welfare with a forecast of 640,000 euros for 2024.
