The Balearic Government has given the green light to the draft general budget for 2025, which amounts to 7,469 million euros. This figure, which represents an increase of 2% over the previous year, is mainly intended to strengthen areas of social spending such as health, education, housing and the water cycle. However, this increase is not reflected in the funding for the island councils, where Ibiza and Formentera will see their allocations cut for next year.
Cutbacks in Ibiza and Formentera
For Ibiza, the allocated budget will be 77.4 million euros, down from 82.3 million last year. In the case of Formentera, the cut is almost one million euros, going from 12.1 million in 2024 to 11.3 million in 2025. The Councilor of Economy, Antoni Costa, explained that this is the first time that a reduction of this type is applied to the island councils, although he assured that the Govern tries to compensate these adjustments with other investments of regional impact. Among them, he mentioned the 40 million euros in road agreements aimed at improving road safety on the islands. Costa also emphasized that island institutions will receive more resources through additional items, such as advances for road safety projects. Despite this, the cutback has generated concern among local officials, who point out the need to maintain the level of funding to continue developing key projects for the community.
Priorities in social spending and the water cycle
The increase in the Govern’s overall budget is aimed at increasing investment in key areas. Of the 7,469 million euros planned, 4,447.8 million will be earmarked for social spending, representing the largest budget ever for this sector. Costa underlined his department’s commitment to support essential public services, detailing that funds for education, health and housing are vital for the sustainability and well-being of citizens. In addition, another major budgetary commitment is the water cycle, whose investment increases from 145.1 million in 2024 to 160.2 million in 2025. These funds aim to improve water infrastructure and manage resources more efficiently, a critical aspect for the archipelago.
Reactions to the budget: expectation of debate in Parliament
The decision to reduce funding for the island councils, especially in Ibiza and Formentera, has generated a cautious response from local leaders, who plan to make adjustments in their respective projects to adapt to this decrease. In this context, the Govern expects the budget project to begin its processing in the Balearic Parliament in the coming weeks, where an intense debate is expected. The alliance with Vox in the Parliament, which supported the spending limit, is shaping up to be key in the discussion of the budget. Meanwhile, the Govern defends its focus on responsible management, stating that it is a realistic planning and adjusted to the most urgent needs of the community.
