The buses in Ibiza would cease to be totally free in 2025 if the central government does not take over the cost, as it has been entitled to since 2022 when it implemented the total subsidy of public transport services in an agreement between the Executive and the Canary Coalition, which was extended to the Balearic Islands. Sources of the Consell have informed to La Voz de Ibiza that the total gratuity of the buses will continue next year only “if the central government pays for it”. “From collectives, that is, young people, elderly and people at risk, we continue to maintain the gratuity”, they have specified. According to Último Minuto, the councilor José Luis Mateo attended the Parliament this Wednesday to explain the breakdown of the budget of his area for 2025, and said that he has not yet had any notification from the Government about the state bonus for next year’s free bus service.
A growing deficit
In December 2023, the Council of Ministers approved a decree extending for the whole of 2024 the extension of free transport to the Balearic and Canary Islands, a decision which originated after the COVID crisis and the war in Ukraine. This omnibus decree fixed for 2024 the same budget item as for 2023: 43 million euros. Of this total, the Consell de Ibiza is allocated 5.6 million, while Formentera is allocated 420,000 euros. On the other hand, in September of this year, the general director of Mobility, Lorena del Valle, has sent a note to the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility claiming the lack of answers from the central government on “when it will proceed to the payment of such aid”. He also pointed out that the figure of 43 million euros is insufficient. So far, the Govern has not yet received the money that the Government should transfer, and an even more uncertain scenario opens up for 2025.
