The Adeje mayor, José Miguel Rodríguez Fraga, launched the council’s 2021 budget estimates today, March 11th, outlining that priority in funding would be for people of the borough, job creation, the protection of small and medium enterprises and the reactivation of the borough’s economic network. Adeje is estimating an income this year of €88 million, €1.7 million less than last year.
The mayor told press that “we have created a budget programme that is balanced, in that we have applied the same parameters as we did for our crisis budget in 2020, with the central pivot being the fight against the crisis caused by Covid-19. The five basic pillars of our programme are employment and employability, the reactivation of the business fabric for small and medium companies and the self-employed, avoiding gaps in society in terms of helping the most vulnerable, health and social welfare, and the recovery of tourism”. The mayor was accompanied by the councillors for finance, Epifanio Díaz Hernández and for community welfare, Mercedes Vargas Delgado.
The council will continue, under this budget, to attend to the needs of those seeking urgent care, while at the same time generating job opportunities thus reducing the numbers in need of emergency social care in the long run. “We want the public to be able to access job opportunities instead of social assistance” where possible, said the mayor. We are aware of the needs the more vulnerable groups in society – the elderly, our youth too, who have perhaps, been more affected by the crisis. He added that they were also preparing a new series of financial aid packages for small and medium local enterprises.
Over €3 million will be going to social emergency situations for those most in need, to be administered by social services, and a similar amount for job creation and training opportunities. Specific funding will also be allocated to companies to help them bridge social and digital gaps.
The majority of the council’s estimated spending will continue to be in the provision of basic services –clean water, public power networks, communal cleaning, works, etc. with €50 million to be spent here. €15 million is also destined for social services, the elderly, special needs and safety.
In line with announcements last year regarding the reduction in some local taxes, the council have reaffirmed that the rubbish tax, for instance, is not being sought from those businesses who have had to close during the crisis. They have also continued the policy of extending the payment period for local taxes for residents, until November 2021 for this year.
