The Estepona (Málaga) City Council will submit the initial approval of the municipal budget for the year 2022 to the plenary session of the corporation, which will take place next Thursday 30 September. The economic document envisages revenues of more than 109 million euros, expenses of 108 million euros and a projected surplus of more than 806,000 euros.
The mayor of Estepona, José María García Urbano, explained that these are accounts that “envisage the greatest investment effort in the history of the city as a driving force for the local economy, recovery and quality of life”.
In this way, he explained, “the budget includes funds to continue the projects committed to in the electoral programme and decisive for the consolidation of the city model developed over the last decade, which have had such a valuable economic and social impact for Estepona”.
He also explained that the budget retains “the rigour, credibility, accountability and compliance with the regulations applicable to it”.
He also stressed that this is a document with a strong social character, as is characteristic of this governmental team, where the economic amounts related to aid and social programmes for the most vulnerable groups continue to be “expandable items”, i.e. they will be unlimited and can be increased according to the needs that arise during the year.
In this respect, he indicated that the government team will reinforce the investment character that has marked the management of the last ten years. Specifically, the items for productive investments included in the budget have increased to 22.6 million euros, “the highest figure ever recorded in the city’s history”.
These are amounts intended for the creation of a “Balcony on the Mediterranean “This is a large urban space that will open up the city to the sea, creating a new tourist attraction of great value that completes the city’s urban revitalisation project; the completion of the work on the new Town Hall building, which will group together the municipal offices and improve service to citizens; and the municipal parking plan, which includes the completion of the work on the car park for half a thousand vehicles in Plaça del Ajedrez and the renovation of this environment.
Similarly, funds have been included for the completion and maintenance of the coastal corridor project linking the entire seafront and for the continuation of the remodelling of the promenade in the section between La Cala and Jacaranda.
They are also allocating resources for the continuation of the process of remodelling and embellishment of the city centre, which already has more than 130 streets renovated in all their infrastructures and which has meant a before and after in the revitalisation of the city thanks to the sustainable development project “Estepona, garden of the Costa del Sol”.
The preparation of these municipal accounts has been marked by the fire that started in Genalguacil and spread to Estepona. In this sense, an initial economic allocation of 600,000 euros has been set aside to contribute, in the manner and within the timeframe determined by the competent administrations, to the initial recovery actions in Sierra Bermeja.
In this regard, the plenary session will reiterate the request already made in 2018 for this enclave of unique ecosystems to be included in the Sierra de las Nieves National Park.
INVESTMENTS
In the investment section, the budget provides for the improvement of public facilities, the creation of green areas and playgrounds, the conservation and purchase of materials for beaches and gardens and the maintenance of educational centres and nursery schools. In addition, resources continue to be incorporated to support cultural activity and funds are incorporated for the implementation of projects co-financed by the Edusi eupeos funds.
Public security is strengthened to continue to improve the material resources of the Local Police and Civil Protection, as well as with the allocation of funds to cover the public demand for nine officer positions.
In this sense, they highlighted the 2.2 million euros for home help, the half million euros (extendable) for the promotion of employment, as well as the increase in the amounts for non-profit associations that help the most disadvantaged.
They also include the heading of emergency social aid, which will have an unlimited character, being granted to all persons who are in the corresponding situation for this aid. On the other hand, allowances for economic and family aid are envisaged, as well as for other programmes promoted by Social Protection.
PAYMENT OF INHERITED DEBT
Another aspect included in the 2022 budget is the continued payment of the €304 million debt inherited in June 2011.
50 million, which means that by the end of 2022, more than 83% of the €304 million inherited debt will have been paid off.
In this sense, he emphasised “the dizzying pace of depreciation, thus producing considerable savings for the municipal coffers by avoiding the interest payments it generates”. Important steps have been taken in recent years in the course of this depreciation.
Therefore, for the financial year 2022, it is planned to continue to pay the commitments made to the Social Security Treasury, whose debt in 2011 amounted to approximately EUR 60 million. It is planned that this debt inherited from the Social Security Treasury will be repaid in 2023.
The target set by the government team is to achieve “zero debt”, so that by that time the largest reduction in property tax (IBI) will be achieved. So far, IBI and rubbish tax have been reduced by 20%, and the reduction in bills will be consolidated by 2022.
“During this decade, we have shown that we know how to govern, that we have made responsible use of public resources, that we have responsibly managed the terrible economic legacy of the past and that we have devoted all our efforts and knowledge to the well-being of our neighbours and to the prosperity of the city”, said the Mayor.
Finally, he stressed that the Estepona City Council “has once again fulfilled its obligation to present the municipal budget for the next financial year on time, being – once again – one of the first municipalities to carry out this procedure”.
