The increase in tax collection allows the Generaliat to increase spending in the 2023 budgets -approved today by the executive council- by 7.6%, up to 41,025 million euros. If the extraordinary allocations from European funds are not taken into account, the increase in direct spending is 10.7%.
Although it is the highest budget in history -as happens every year except those of economic recession- the weight of social spending on the total is slightly reduced to represent 73.2% compared to 74.6% in 2022. No However, the item allocated to health (11,636 million) grows more (9.6%) than the budget (7.6%). In education, on the other hand, the increase is below with an increase of 6.2%, up to 6,960 million).
Sources from the Department of Economy directed by Natàlia Mas have explained that the fact that the weight of social spending on the total is reduced is because the cost of interest paid for the debt has increased and because of the greater allocation to the area of company. That department will receive 1,472 million, 17.5% more.
In the detail of the accounts, there are no specific extraordinary items to comply with some of the most outstanding agreements that the Government signed with the PSC, such as the construction of the B-40 highway, the promotion of the Hard Rock Cafe or the increase in capacity. From the airport.
Regarding social spending, the Department of Economy has highlighted the increase in personnel in the health area (4,370 more workers) and in the teaching field (6,804). In a statement, Economia has valued the 8% increase in the Cataunya Sufficiency Indicator (IRSC) that will allow “updating the amount of social benefits for the first time in more than a decade.” Other measures that stand out are the maintenance of public transport price discounts (71 million euros) and the reduction of waiting lists for dependencies (106 million), the expansion of the public housing stock (180 million) and improving attention to cases of sexist violence (38.5 million).
When the accounts are analyzed from the other side, that of income, the importance of the increase in expected and past collection to build the accounts is verified. The Generalitat has received this year an advance from the State on account of the expected collection of 11%. And also, as a result of the liquidation of the financing model, it has received an extra income of more than 2,000 million. In total, the increase in advances and liquidation is almost 21%, up to 25,236 million. The amount corresponding to income from own and assigned taxes is expected to grow by 6% to close to 5,000 million.
Regarding fiscal policy, Mas has pointed out that this year’s accounts barely incorporate changes in the tax figures. But he wanted to highlight the “stability” of the Government’s strategy on taxation. Catalonia is one of the few Spanish autonomous communities that has not deflated the rental rate.
In the draft budget of the Generalitat that Minister Mas delivered to Parliament this morning, it is also detailed that the debt in relation to GDP will be reduced from 34.1% to 32.7% in 2023. The estimate of economic growth it is 1.7% this year compared to 4.4% last year.
After the delivery of the public accounts bill, the social agents (employers and unions) have highlighted the importance of Catalonia having budgets. The forecast is that once they pass the parliamentary process, the accounts may be approved in March. In recent years, it was only in 2022 that the Generaliat was able to approve a budget in time for it to enter into force on January 1.
