Alicante Provincial Council spokesperson Vicente Arques, representing PSPV-PSOE, urged Toni Pérez, the head of the state organization, to begin the necessary discussions about shaping the 2024 budgets for the State Council. The appeal underscored calls for timely budget planning amid ongoing deliberations within the regional governance framework.
The Socialist spokesperson noted that by September 30 the Provincial Assembly had a budget implementation rate of 33 percent. Extending the deadline to December 30 would elevate the figure to 44 percent, yet overall performance raised concerns. Only four out of ten euros allocated by the Province Committee have been spent, with personal expenses comprising part of the first segment and current expenses forming part of the second. Investment levels for the Alicante Provincial Council stood at 10 percent. Arques expressed frustration at the presence of 300 million euros held in banking institutions, labeling the situation unacceptable given the administrative needs and projects awaiting funding.
Constitution
Arques reminded readers that the Provincial Council was established on August 2 and that the constitution of autonomous bodies was postponed by two months, aligning with the term of office from 2019 to 2023. In the 2019 setup, autonomous bodies were formed in the last week of September and into October. Under the current appointment, alongside Toni Pérez, all trustees and related bodies were expected to finalize measures in the last week of December. This alignment helps explain the perceived delay and paralysis affecting the Alicante Provincial Assembly.
Alicante Provincial Council transfers another 10 million to the Consell Cooperation Fund and its alternative investment plan
Arques proposed three clear actions for the 2024 budget. The first involves reforming the administration procedure for Plan Planifica, Plan + Cerca, and other initiatives. Delays of three to four years have plagued works, largely because municipal councils were unable to issue tenders and municipalities faced procurement challenges. He also drew attention to the framework agreement with Iberdrola that expired in September. The agreement, signed two years ago, ends up imposing higher electricity costs on municipal councils and, by extension, on residents. The rising costs have been influenced by the ongoing war in Ukraine and Russia, a factor affecting several councils and their budgets.
Take attention
In closing, Arques stressed the socialist perspective on the Provincial Council’s strategy. The President of the Provincial Assembly has repeatedly stated a goal of aiding smaller municipalities with an expected allocation of 65 million euros. Meanwhile a separate project saw plans to acquire a headquarters in Elche for 7 million euros and a 5 million euro budget for a building in Benidorm that is not yet owned, totaling 77 million euros. The question remains whether the council is prioritizing real estate investments at the expense of broad municipal needs. Critics argue that a real estate focus could direct 77 million euros away from smaller municipalities, potentially equating to about 1 million euros per municipality if distributed more evenly. The discussion continues about aligning budget priorities with the needs of towns of all sizes within the province, ensuring that investments serve a wide base rather than a select few urban centers. [Citation: Alicante Provincial Council statements and budget discussions].