El Paso City Council Approves €10.8 Million Budget for⁣ 2025

EL PASO, Spain ⁢(AP) — The El Paso City Council approved its 2025 municipal budget of €10,815,850.83 during an extraordinary plenary session Tuesday, April 22,⁤ officials said. ‍The budget aims for balanced growth, focusing on residents‍ without increasing taxes, according⁣ too the council.

the budget boasts a treasury surplus exceeding €3.6 million and ⁢a 0% debt level, which the council says demonstrates the municipality’s strong⁣ financial standing.

Mayor Highlights Key Priorities

Mayor Eloy Martín emphasized the‍ budget’s importance. “This budget is a key tool to continue growing,” Martín said. “It reinforces social benefits, guarantees the stability and quality of public services, and allows us to ⁢continue with a firm step on the path of progress drawn for the municipality. It responds to a clear strategy: manage with balance, invest with responsibility ⁣and continue responding to ⁢the real needs of our ⁤neighbors.”

Social Programs ⁤and ⁤Economic Development Take‍ Center Stage

The 2025 budget prioritizes social programs and local economic growth, according to Irinova Hernández, the Treasury⁣ Councilor. “We have significantly increased the ⁣items⁣ for social actions, prioritizing the welfare of ⁣citizens and promoting neighborhood cohesion,” Hernández⁤ said. “Parallel, we promote the revitalization of local productive fabric through incentives and projects that stimulate investment and generate employment.”

The budget allocates €4,763,377.98 for the efficient operation of municipal services. Current transfers of €1,340,295.12 are earmarked for aid and ⁢subsidies to social, cultural, sports, and neighborhood entities, and also local commerce⁢ and the primary sector, aiming to strengthen the municipality’s social and economic structure.

Commitment to Education and families

The city is bolstering its commitment to⁢ education by allocating €100,000 ⁣for scholarships and school supplies, reinforcing accessible and inclusive education.Subsidies for local commerce (€105,559)⁤ and the primary sector (€45,030) are also increased to support local businesses and farmers.

Citizen participation policies receive over €300,000, ‍strengthening neighborhood councils and participatory budgets, allowing residents to influence investments ⁤and priorities.

Strategic Investments Planned

The budget includes €561,436.70 for strategic projects, including⁢ infrastructure rehabilitation, playground and sports facility upgrades, water supply improvements, street asphalting, and enhanced ⁢public lighting.

Sound Financial Health

The El⁣ Paso City council maintains its financial planning based on prudence and technical⁤ rigor, ensuring budgetary balance and compliance with financial stability regulations.

“The passing institution enjoys solid financial health, ‍endorsed ⁤by the strict fulfillment of its tax obligations and a responsible management of public resources,” Hernández said. “An example of this is the level of indebtedness planned by 2025, which is ⁢located‍ at 0%,⁢ complying in an exemplary exemplary of debt.With solvency future needs and investments.”

Martín noted the city’s strong performance in 2024. “In 2024 we have executed 21.2 million euros, a ancient and unthinkable figure for a municipality like ours,” Martín said. “That is our greatest quality: the ⁣ability to manage external financing effectively.”

Effective management and responsible use of external funds have significantly expanded the City council’s capacity for action and development. Over €6.7 million has⁤ already been secured from various funding sources to promote strategic projects.

Key Projects on the Horizon

Prominent projects ⁣include the construction of a⁤ municipal pool via the Insular Program ⁤for ⁣Local Development⁤ (PIDL),a new ⁣elderly residence,improvements to the Health Center⁢ and the Neighborhood Association headquarters,and the creation of a Tourist Facts Center.

Additional initiatives include housing actions managed by ICAVI,⁤ aid for those affected by volcanic eruptions, employment plans, works financed by national parks, and road asphalting ‍under the Insular Cooperation Plan. Moreover, €6.3 ‍million will go towards sanitation‍ network renewal,and ‍€7.4 million ‍for the⁢ Hermosilla – Tajuya Irrigation Network, recently approved by the Canary Islands Government.

These investments aim to improve public ⁤services and⁢ complement ongoing projects such as the Monterrey‍ School Hotel,⁢ the macararonus Forest Center, housing in⁢ the Post‍ Office, the Federico Simón terrero and sports facilities, modernization of the open commercial area, a new cultural ⁣space near francisca Square of Gazmira, construction of deposits for community irrigators, and recovery of communications infrastructure.

“The⁤ step is today⁢ a more dynamic, more cohesive and enterprising ‍municipality,” Martín said. “We get it thanks to the thrust and enthusiasm of our people, without missing any opportunity. We are a reference of the municipality that advances with a vision of the future and without losing its essence: the first people.”

The Government Group expressed gratitude to the City Council’s technical⁤ staff for their⁢ professionalism and dedication in preparing the budget.

The municipal ‍accounts were ‍approved with the favorable vote of the Canarian Coalition⁣ government group and the abstention of the Popular Party mayor.