The Alicante province shows a healthy local public sector, according to Antonio Mira-Perceval, a prominent figure in the regional contest union. His assessment rests on audited municipal accounts that display substantial treasury reserves and a generally positive budget performance. He credits resource management gains to the agency he represents and to regulatory measures introduced by multiple oversight bodies. Yet he cautions that councils still face a long journey, especially on the technological front, to reach stronger control.
Mira-Perceval spoke at the Municipal Forum hosted by INFORMACIÓN, where he outlined the work of the Sindicatura de Comptes de la Comunitat Valenciana. He acknowledged that the institution does not always enjoy favorable press among governments. He remarked, in his own words, that the audience should not expect him to make friends; the aim is to highlight what works and what does not, and to point out emerging issues along the way.
He also emphasized that although the Sindicatura has operated for many years, it remains largely obscure to citizens and even to the MPs who elect trustees. He noted its strong standing among external control bodies and recalled that the European Union pressed a lawsuit against the Spanish government for falsifying the public deficit, a matter highlighted by Eurostat. Mira-Perceval stressed that the Sindicatura is a collegiate body, and since its creation, most of his reports have received unanimous approval, with the exception of the Blasco case, on which he dissented.
Balance
After this introduction, he proceeded to examine the local public sector in the province, which he described as healthy. Referencing 2021 data, it is clear that Alicante city councils posted a general expenses surplus of 654 million euros. The adjusted budget result stood at 230 million eight years earlier, compared with 294 million in 2016. Per capita income in 2016 was 912 euros, rising to 1,009 euros, while current expenses were 859 and 732 euros in 2016. Direct municipal investment per capita grew from 55 euros to 110 euros, reflecting a stronger commitment to local development.
Mira-Perceval attributed the improvement in accounts for local bodies largely to the Sindicatura de Comptes and its coordination with the Court of Accounts to prevent conflicts. He highlighted that the institution has strengthened its technical and material resources, enabling more thorough oversight. As a result, it is now difficult to find a council that does not face scrutiny over some aspect of its management.
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He also pointed to regulatory changes that authorize the imposition of coercive fines. The Sindicatura has the power to penalize administrations that fail to provide required information. To date, no penalties have been imposed, though proceedings have begun when necessary. He added that media coverage sometimes influenced decisions, with sanctions avoided when issues dominated the press.
Accountability
In his view, all this work has helped the Comunitat Valenciana achieve the highest accountability index among Spanish city councils, currently at 91 percent. He noted that all provincial municipalities reported contract information for 2021. The ombudsman considers this focus on transparency to be the most important achievement, and the evidence shows that municipalities continue to strengthen control environments, even as technology remains a work in progress.