Calp today initially approved the municipal budget for 2021, which amounts to 37,870,275 euros, against the votes of all opposition parties.
In terms of revenue, the 2021 budget includes an expected reduction in revenue of €2,806,150 resulting from a 5% reduction in the IBI tax (property tax)as well as other measures such as the suspension of the public street occupancy fee for tables and chairs for hotels, the suspension of the reservation fee for taxis and hotel stays, the suspension of the opening licence fee and the possibility to apply for a deferral of property tax without interest for vulnerable persons.
In terms of recurrent expenditure, all items are reduced compared to the previous year; expenditure is reallocated to optimise resources in line with the health crisis However, there is an increase in social policy expenditure, so there is an increase of 49'78 % in primary social assistance expenditure and 67'42 % in home help services. There is a total increase of €290,300 in social services.
To support the trade, tourism and hotel industry, Plan Impulsa is allocated 400,000 euros. In addition, there is a new edition of assistance for the housing of pensioners, retirees and the long-term unemployed and to set up assistance to support cultural associations.
Aid for education is increased by 40'07 %, totalling €104'875. The item "Security and beaches" is increased by 18'98 % to provide staff for access control to the beaches and other covid measures.
New expenses due to the Corona crisis, such as cleaning and disinfection of community rooms, masks, computers, etc. are received. There is an increase in expenditure on parks and gardens and renewal of pavements. As a novelty, subsidies to associations and sports clubs are planned in advance, like subsidies to parents' associations (Ampa) to support expenses for the purchase of teaching materials or the implementation of the "Escoles Matineres" programme.
And it is planned to implement active employment policies through a local employment plan; the application has already been processed with an amount of € 185,000.
As far as investments are concerned, the remaining money from the dissolution of the 2019 budget will be used to implement 13 investments, such as the 5th phase and completion of the Casa de la Música building, for which €726,825 has been earmarked. There is also €585,525 for the rehabilitation of Club Social La Manzanera, €680,750 for the Cala La Manzanera pavement and coastal regeneration, and €95,625 for the improvement of Club Social La Manzanera's outdoor facilities.
Other major investments include road repair works (Lot 1) for €486,700 and asphalting (Lot 2) for €494,900. There is also an item of €250,525 for road rehabilitation and repair and €100,000 for street lighting (100 solar streetlamps).
Another important investment is the access road M to the new secondary school, included in the Edificant plan, with a budget of €493,975 and the renewal of the areas adjacent to road J with an amount of €83,500.
60,000 € is earmarked for the repair of Casa Roja for the family recreation unit and 3,000 € for furnishings. It includes the construction of a water point in the Sierra de Oltà as part of the protection and fire-fighting measures, for an amount of €76,800.
The budget also includes an item of €485,000 for the extension of the municipal cemetery and an item of €93,311 for the remodelling of the wall of the lookout point of the beach promenade of the Fossa, which will add metres of sand to the beach.
New investments are planned, depending on the evolution of the situation: the extension of the local police station, a plan to support births and children and the renovation of the air in the Casa de Cultura and Auditorium.
Debate
During the discussion, Defendamos Calpe spokesperson Paco Quiles said that "the town treasurer has calculated down the municipal revenues. The town will take in less and we run the risk of not being able to make certain expenditures. The spending structure is the same as last year and it would be an excellent budget if the surplus ended up in the pockets of the citizens and not in Club Social La Manzaneda. We are the municipality that takes in the most money in the Valencian Community, but this is not reflected in the welfare of the people of Calpe. Moreover, personnel expenses reach half of the budget, in 2013 we spent 5 million less in the personnel chapter".
For his part, Compromís spokesman Ximo Perles said that "the forms are not appropriate because there has been no conversation with the opposition; the decrease in revenue is due to the ultra-liberal policy of the city, which applies a 5% reduction in property tax (IBI) that only benefits the wealthier". The Compromís councillor criticised the deletion of the position of language technician and the fact that the expansion of the local police station is being considered, although there is no project. He also criticised the lack of an environmental policy in the budget.
Socialist Group spokesperson Santos Pastor focused on the "personnel" chapter, which represents 46% of budgetary expenditure, noting that "this expenditure is derived from the uncontrolled policies of the different PP governments that characterise all municipal budgets." Pastor also referred to the lack of housing policy, saying that "it is an oversized budget that should increase social welfare items."
Ciudadanos spokesman Juan Manuel del Pino said that "we have known the needs of our community, needs that are conditioned by their own characteristics, and we have worked to provide solutions to those needs."
Councillor for Finance, Fernando Ortiz, took the floor to explain that "the revenue forecast is considering the uncertainty due to the Corona crisis and the fees that are not collected, but also the objective calculation of the last four years. We have written off and readjusted positions that are not covered, which is an increase in Chapter 1." He also pointed out that "the language technician position has been amortised, but we are working on a tender to contract out translation services to and from Valencian."
Finally, the mayor, Ana Sala, said that "this is the most social and realistic budget in history, in which the Corona crisis directly affects the budgeted amounts; the efforts made are aimed at supporting the citizens of Calp". She also explained that "spending is never enough and resources are limited".