The Consell has approved the Generalitat’s 2024 budget this Monday, marking the first financial plan of the new PP and Vox administration after the political shift last May. It has been handed to the Cortes for processing with the aim of final approval before year’s end. The total comes to 29 billion 732 million euros, up 4.5 percent from the left’s previously planned figure, a record even before this year’s adjustments. A Consell spokesperson, Ruth Merino, described the accounts as comprehensive yet rigorous and responsible rather than deceptive.
The consolidated budget is growing at a steadier pace and includes real expenses, defined as non-financial outlays excluding debt service, amounting to 22,670 million euros. This translates to a real increase of 2.3 percent from the current year’s 22,164 million. The fiscal budget, which covers obligatory payments and interest, rises to 7,948 million euros, about 1,300 million more than before.
Merino emphasized the burden on the Consell to meet deadlines and criticized Botànic for the timing. She noted that interest payments are expected to climb by 28 percent in 2023 and could surge by 112 percent next year, a trend she called startling.
We will do more with less
What does the reduced investment mean, according to the newspaper report? Mazón reiterated the goal of improving execution rates compared with the left. The investment chapter remains at 1,228 million euros, lower than the roughly 1,500 million planned for the current year, which had been expanded to 1,900 million. The spokesperson defended the prioritization of efficiency in this area to justify the cut. Mazón stated that the administration intends to do more with less.
The personnel budget rises from 8,123 million to over 8,800 million, driven largely by wage enhancements for civil servants coordinated at the state level and needing implementation by the Generalitat.
According to the figures, social spending accounts for 83 percent of next year’s total and increases by 2.15 percent, from 17,946 million to 18,342 million, aligning with Botànic’s 2023 accounts.
On revenues, even though precise figures for the national economy are not provided, the Consell remains confident in the tax authority’s projections, anticipating roughly 15,500 million euros in revenues. This comprises 12,798 million from current accounts and 2,719 million from the 2022 settlement, representing about a 16 percent rise over this year’s resources.
In addition to the investment chapter, the public sector remains a key area where resources are being rebalanced. Merino notes a fall in this figure from 4,174 million to 3,851 million, a decline of 7.7 percent.
By department, Health is allocated 8,504 million euros, up by 246 million according to the Consell. This portion accounts for 37 percent of the entire budget, with the General Directorate of Primary Care receiving a substantial share.
Education also shows growth compared with the previous year, rising from 5,520 million to 6,871 million. The budget now includes responsibilities that were previously under another department, such as Employment. When Education, Universities, and Employment are combined, the total rises by 1.2 percent, or 84 million. Equality funding increases from 2,308 million to 2,811 million.
Regarding assigned tasks, Vox councils, the first vice presidency, and the Ministry of Culture receive 220 million euros; the Ministry of Agriculture 344 million; and the Ministry of Justice 760 million. In total, just over 1.3 billion euros are allocated, roughly 5 percent of the entire budget.
Details of the budgets can be reviewed in full in the accompanying documentation.