Garachico Town Council Concludes 2025 Budget Approval Process

On September 25, the Garachico Town Council convened for a special session where it successfully approved the budget for the year 2025. This significant financial plan is now available for public review and potential objections until October 24, allowing residents to engage with the council’s fiscal decisions.

Comprehensive Overview of the Approved Financial Plan

The newly approved budget amounts to over 7,200,000 euros, marking a notable 7.5% increase compared to the previous year’s budget. The governing coalition, comprised of the Canary Coalition (CC) and the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE), expressed their support for the budget. In contrast, the opposition party A’Gara, led by former mayor Ramón Miranda, cast two votes against the proposal. Miranda voiced his disappointment regarding the absence of two other councillors from his party during this critical session, which may have influenced the voting outcome.

Detailed Financial Allocations and Rationale

A substantial portion of the budget, nearly 46.76%, is earmarked for personnel costs, which exceed three million euros. This increase in personnel expenses is primarily due to a stabilisation process aimed at securing staff positions, as outlined by the governing team during the budget approval meeting. They highlighted that this stabilisation initiative incurs an additional expense of approximately 400,000 euros, reflecting the council’s commitment to maintaining a stable workforce.

The timing of the budget approval was influenced by delays in receiving income transfers from the Congress of Deputies, which were not finalized until July. The council anticipates receiving around 300,000 euros from these transfers, prompting necessary adjustments to the municipal accounts. These adjustments particularly affected personnel and waste disposal expenses, illustrating the interconnected nature of local governance and funding sources.

Projected expenditures for the upcoming year are set to increase by 15.71%, totaling over three million euros. This rise is attributed to the ongoing labour stabilisation process and a significant shift in waste collection services. The local council has taken over the management of waste collection from the Isla Baja Consortium, a move justified by the council as essential to meet the current needs concerning solid waste in Garachico. This transition has resulted in an additional cost of approximately 200,000 euros, underscoring the financial implications of local governance decisions.

Despite the overall increase in the budget, investments remain minimal, accounting for only 0.43% of the total budget. This translates to nearly 126,000 euros allocated for both the council’s initiatives and the nursing home, representing a decrease from 165,000 euros in 2024. This reduction in investment funding raises questions about the council’s priorities and future development plans.

Insights into the Nursing Home Financial Allocation

Alongside the town council’s budget, the budget for the Autonomous Body Ntra. Sra. de la Concepción Nursing Home has also been approved, amounting to over two million euros. A substantial portion of this budget, approximately 58.19%, is designated for employee expenses, highlighting the importance of staffing in providing quality care at the facility. This allocation reflects the council’s recognition of the need to support the workforce that delivers essential services to the community’s elderly population.

Key points

• The Garachico Town Council approved the 2025 budget on September 25.
• The budget totals over 7,200,000 euros, a 7.5% increase from 2024.
• Personnel costs account for nearly 46.76% of the budget, exceeding three million euros.
• Expenditures are set to rise by 15.71%, totaling over three million euros.
• Investments represent only 0.43% of the total budget, amounting to nearly 126,000 euros.
• The budget for the nursing home exceeds two million euros, with 58.19% allocated for employee expenses.