The crisis between the Popular Party and Vox -first over the approach to illegal immigration and then over the language issue- has generated an earthquake in the Balearic Government, which had to withdraw the autonomous the autonomic budgets for next year.
This inevitably aroused some concern in the councils that were already projecting a series of works for 2025. From the Consell de Ibiza clarified that “it will not have any impact because the funding from the Govern to the Consell comes through a law and the agreements can continue to be processed and signed”. In this sense, they refer to what is determined by Law 3/2014, of June 17, of the definitive financing system of the Island Councils, which aims to ensure adequate resources for the autonomic competences assumed by these bodies. It is for this reason that there was a slight drop between this year’s budget and the one projected in 2025. Since 2014, three main funds were established: the Inter-island Service Financing Fund, the Inter-island Compensation Fund, and the Convergence Fund. These funds finance both current and capital expenditures, adapting to the needs of each island. According to the law, population indicators are used as one of the criteria for distributing the funds. These indicators are combined with other factors, such as territorial surface and the financing needs derived from the competencies of the Island Councils, to guarantee an equitable allocation among the islands. In addition, the system seeks to correct inequalities through the Compensation and Convergence Funds, adjusting to the demographic and economic reality of each territory.
What about investments?
However, the chapter of investments runs on another track. And from the Govern had detailed a whole series of works of fuste. In late November, the Vice President and Minister of Economy, Finance and Innovation of the Government of the Balearic Islands, Antoni Costa, in a visit to the island to present the frustrated general budgets of the Autonomous Community of 2025, had detailed a series of projected works with the president of the Consell de Ibiza, Antoni Costa. together with the president of the Consell de Ibiza, Vicent Marí.
In this regard, Costa had announced that the Govern will soon sign a protocol to transfer to the Consell Insular de Ibiza 6 million euros to finance investments in roads to be executed and paid during the year 2025. In addition, the vice president highlighted the specific investments planned in the budgets in educational infrastructure to be carried out on the island, “such as the comprehensive reform of the CEIP Sant Ciriac, the new CEIP Es Faralló or the second line of the CEIP Sant Carles”, in addition to the 2.1 million euros in agreements with municipalities for the maintenance of schools. Cuesta also highlighted the investments in the water cycle, “such as the Santa Eulària desalination plant, the removal of the Talamanca outfall or the digitalization system of the water cycle“. In terms of housing, the vice president highlighted the Build to Rent program, the emergency decree, the Lloguer Segur program or the fight against intrusion, “with more than 4 million euros”.
All insured
From the Ministry of Economy have clarified to La Voz de Ibiza that “the extension of the budget will have no impact on major investments. In the case of the Consell de Ibiza, what was foreseen in the protocol signed for roads is maintained because, as it was explained at that time, those six million (euros) are charged to the Insularity Factor, whose item is maintained because it is linked to the Special Regime of the Balearic Islands.” “The same happens with the investments through the Sustainability Tourism Tax (ITS), Sanitation Canon or European Funds. The contribution that arrives via the Law of Financing of the Island Councils is also maintained,” they added. In addition, they have assured the necessary investments for the Santa Eulària desalination plant, the removal of the Talamanca outfall and the digitalization system of the water cycle.
“In some cases, as in the case of the Insularity Factor or the European Funds, there is nothing to do because it is money that comes through other channels. And in the rest of the cases, if necessary, the necessary credit modifications will be made”, the Consellería de Economía del Govern has committed itself.
