The Governing Team of Manilva Town Hall, made up of the Partido Popular, Compromiso Manilva and Con Andalucía Izquierda Unida, has secured approval at today’s ordinary council meeting of a historic budget for the municipality amounting to 31,502,246.91 euros. The approval came despite the votes against from the PSOE and VOX municipal groups.
The high point of the council meeting was the vote on the budget document, considered key to municipal management this financial year. Thanks to the majority held by the Governing Team, the proposal has gone through, and from now on the governing team will work with its own budget adjustments.
The mayor of Manilva, José Manuel Fernández, described the day as «historic» for the municipality. «We are talking about a budget of 31,502,246.91 €, which will mean a substantial improvement in infrastructure, services and, ultimately, in the quality of life of our residents», said the mayor.
The Governing Team highlighted the work carried out in drawing up these accounts, based on «planning, responsibility, transparency and a forward-looking attitude», always safeguarding the general interest of the people of Manilva.
Features of the Historic Budget:
The approved budget for Manilva has a number of key features aimed at the progress and wellbeing of the municipality:
- Sustainable Growth: The aim is to boost local commerce and industry as drivers of economic development.
- Strong Social Focus: A significant share of the resources will go to fundamental areas such as education, social services and support for families and workers.
- Adjustments and Efficiency: Adjustments have been made to budget items to avoid unnecessary spending, optimising the use of public resources.
- Budgetary Stability: The budget is based on a balance between income and expenditure, guaranteeing the Town Hall’s financial sustainability.
- Strategic Investments: Major investments are planned in infrastructure crucial to the municipality, including transport, health, education and services for residents.
- Improved Services: The ultimate aim is to offer higher quality services to all the people of Manilva.
The opposition rejects the budget
The PSOE spokesperson, Diego José Jimenez, lamented the little time given by the governing team to analyse the details of such an important document, but what surprised him most was that the money is being diluted without a clear political vision or ambitious objectives, and that it does not respond to the town’s main needs: 0€ for housing promotion or refurbishment, 0€ for security, 0€ for culture and, in short, no solutions to residents’ real problems.
The VOX Municipal Group criticises the lack of balance and the risk to economic stability.
For its part, the VOX Manilva Municipal Group has stated its vote against the budget, arguing that it is «unbalanced and very far removed from reality», as well as considering that it puts «the economic stability of the municipality at risk».
The group’s spokesperson, Antonio Marín, expressed concern that the budget begins with a deficit of 614,763 euros, exceeding the spending ceiling approved at the same meeting.
Marín pointed to the absence of funds to cover court rulings and out-of-court settlements reported by the Legal Advisory Office, which amount to approximately 1,300,000 euros, which would increase the deviation from the spending ceiling to 1,914,763.40 euros, by his calculations.
The VOX spokesperson also warned that the Town Hall’s «outstanding debt» already stands at 56.11%, approaching the maximum limit of 75%. Another of his criticisms focused on the low percentage of the budget earmarked for new investment, which he put at 10.55%.
«The figures in this budget are absurd», Marín stated, also questioning the continued existence of the body GEUMA, which depends on the Town Hall and generates no income of its own.
Despite the opposition’s criticism, the Governing Team welcomes the approval of this historic budget, confident that it will boost development and improve the quality of life of all the residents of Manilva.
