The 2024 municipal budget of Sant Adrià de Besòs (Barcelonès Nord) was approved in the ordinary plenary session with the favorable vote of PSC, ERC and SAeC and the vote against of PP and VOX. This will be the highest budget in the history of Sant Adrià, 49,330,110 euros (the one for 2023, extended from 2022, was 43,492,248 euros), and once again it is defined by a marked social aspect.
The Councilor for the Treasury and spokesperson for the government team, Hugo Ferrer, highlights as priorities for action "social protection and the promotion of people, education, improvement of public space, cleanliness and safety, culture, leisure , sport and participation".
It is a budget that guarantees all municipal services and activities and has as its priorities the protection of the most vulnerable groups, the promotion of civility and coexistence, the promotion of citizen participation, the quality of public space and the improvement and efficiency of citizen service.
The increase in basic social services items aimed at older people and children and adolescents stands out, such as the Home Care Service (SAD), open centers and scholarships for summer camps and educational programs. The SAD service (home care, home cleaning, home-delivered meals and telecare) will have a budget of 1,575,000 euros and the agreement with centers open for 2024 will be 396,000 euros. New items are included: scholarships for summer centers with an endowment of 65,000 euros and the Consell dels Infants, with 20,000 euros. The allocation for school maintenance is increased compared to last year by 70,000 euros and that for educational activities (subsidized by 60% by the Generalitat and the Provincial Council) is maintained.
The commitment to guarantee the quality of public space is consolidated, both in the areas of cleanliness and security. The new street cleaning contract represents an increase of 1,500,000 euros and an investment will also be made in new cameras and control systems at the police station, two other electric motorcycles, which are added to the new vehicles that have arrived. this year.
An important amount, close to 500,000 euros, continues to be allocated to the implementation of electronic administration, which could not be completed during 2023, and which the government team considers essential to offer optimal service to citizens. As the Councilor for the Treasury stated during the plenary session, "the government team is determined to finish promoting electronic administration and strengthen the Transparency department to facilitate procedures and guarantee access to information for all."
Promoting participation is another priority and that is why the new budget includes the novelty of an item of 100,000 euros destined to promote the participation of the Consells de Barri. It also includes an increase in personnel items, determined by the State government, and the forecast of increases in supply consumption (electricity, gas, etc.) compared to recent years. Other notable areas are the promotion of culture, sports and health among the entire population, and especially among the youngest and the elderly.
Municipal finances for 2024 leave little room for investments, but Ferrer explained that the government team will work to achieve the collaboration of other administrations such as the AMB and the Provincial Council "to achieve the essential urban investments to continue the development of the city." .
Ferrer also claimed the need for legislation that establishes fair financing for town councils and for 2024 he advanced that new income will be sought "the contributions that the council receives from Tersa, the Economic Activities Tax, will be reviewed, and some taxes will be studied to equip Sant Adrià with neighboring cities" as well as the application of new taxes to compensate for the effects of some companies. He also expressed his intention to review "the City Council's expenses to be more efficient."
On the other hand, the plenary session on October 30 approved the update of municipal rates and taxes for the year 2024 and, with the same objective as the budget, guarantees the maintenance of all municipal services, especially those related to the protection of people and the improvement of public space and municipal facilities.
The IBI tax rate increases by 5%, the first increase after 10 years of gradual decline. From 2013 to 2023, the tax rate has been reduced annually to compensate for the increase in the new cadastral values of the properties. Now with the update approved in the October plenary session, the IBI tax rate for 2024 will be 0.567. The update of capital gains and most of the rates is also carried out except for the transmission of fixed stop sales of the Mercado dels Encants, which is modified downwards.
