If the budget is not there yet, it is because we are negotiating with the opposition.
The calendar for adopting the 2024 accounts has shifted to February for the Alicante Provincial Council, mirroring a similar delay seen in Castellón, where the budgets were approved on December 5, and also in the broader Valencian provincial administration, which moved its vote to December 22 of the prior year. In Alicante, the plenary session to approve the budget is scheduled for this Wednesday. As has been the pattern in the Valencian Community, left-leaning groups are expected to oppose the plan after a negotiation framework was discussed in the Finance Commission the previous week, though a formal vote outcome remained uncertain. The overall sentiment remains that the budget process reflects ongoing negotiations rather than a straightforward approval, a sign that political dynamics continue to shape fiscal decisions across the region.
Looking at the numbers
The current year’s budget stands at 295.3 million euros, marking a 4.1 percent rise from the previous year. A central aim of the governing team centers on urban and municipal support, with 133.7 million euros earmarked for this purpose, which represents a modest increase of 0.69 percent. An important note concerns the Municipal Cooperation Fund. The Provincial Council, driven by a Botànic-backed investment project, will not participate in this fund under the present arrangement. Deputy leaders Ana Serna and Marina Sáez explained that the decision stems from a Constitutional Court ruling that invalidated two aspects of Valencia’s fund law. They also reminded that the Consejo is developing a new framework in which participation is voluntary for those institutions choosing to join.
Precaution
Speaking to the press, Sáez affirmed a cautious stance regarding any potential involvement of the Cooperation Fund. The aim is to save time while the current administration continues to refine its project. The plan envisions voluntary participation and seeks agreement among all three governing councils. Presently, the PP leads these bodies. A broader objective is to expand the allocation of destinations to serve sparsely populated municipalities, ensuring more comprehensive coverage across rural areas.
The postponement to February for approving the provincial budgets marks a notable change from recent years. Historically, the regional leadership under Carlos Mazón delivered timely accounts, even when the coalition with Ciudadanos endured. Voting against the budgets by two opposition groups is anticipated, a pattern previously seen only once in the run-up to an election. historic negotiations between Mazón and the Valencian speaker have at times influenced the political tempo. The current political climate continues to emphasize dialogue and negotiation rather than strict partisan rigidity.
Changes
As Toni Pérez noted, Serna highlighted that the delay owes much to ongoing discussions with other groups and that new amendments are still being proposed. The first draft has already incorporated nearly twenty changes, with an impact approaching two million euros. Socialist spokesman Vicente Arques countered that the state assembly appears stalled, arguing that the budget proposals fail to meet municipal needs and should be revised. The ensuing debate underscores how local governance requires balancing multiple priorities and stakeholder interests.
On the matter of rejected amendments, Serna described such suggestions as often benefiting a single municipality. He asserted that the administration defended proposals that would yield a better overall budget and urged patience as the process unfolded.
From irrigation support to institutional venues
In the context of sustained drought debates at the national level, the Alicante Provincial Council presented its budget with a clear focus on water management. The Water Cycle program is set to receive over 15.5 million euros, an increase of 2 percent from the previous year. Of this amount, about 12 million euros will fund hydraulic infrastructure for sanitation and supply projects. There is also a stronger emphasis on irrigation efficiency, with funding rising from 630,000 euros to 2.6 million. The administration presents these resources as a commitment to farmers and irrigators who rely on reliable water services.
Specific projects include an allocation of 297,000 euros for the Alicante Congress Palace, added to 23,000 euros already spent in 2023. In addition, 320,000 euros will be included in the remaining liquid assets for the Elche Conference Centre, under the broader plan to support key civic and cultural infrastructure.