The negative response of the opposition groups, especially Trias for Barcelona and BComú, to the reactivation of the municipal budgets for this year has not changed the strategy of the socialist government to move forward with the forecast of income and expenses for 2024 Yesterday, at the presentation of the details of the new proposal, the Deputy Mayor of Economy, Jordi Valls, increased the pressure on the formations that have to approve it. “Not supporting the budget is giving up on Barcelona”, said Valls, who separated this issue from a pact to govern the City Council, as Mayor Jaume Collboni did the day before.
Jordi Valls yesterday presented the budgets with which he will try to convince the opposition groups in the coming days, before Tuesday, when the socialist government of the city plans to take them to an extraordinary municipal commission to rule on the matter.
The new accounts change those presented and rejected in October by 71.9 million euros. The new budget rises to a record figure of 3,807 million, 5.9% more than that of 2023, which the municipal government extended due to the impossibility of finding the essential supports to carry out the new accounts. This increase compared to the rejected budget is a consequence of the increase in transfers from the State.
The project presented by Valls envisages a record investment of 777.6 million euros, which rises to 944 million if you add those planned by the Municipal Housing Institute, the municipal company BSM and others entities linked to Barcelona City Council.
Jordi Valls reiterated the good economic and financial health of the City Council and the city, in general, to call on the opposition to take responsibility. “I’m optimistic, because being optimistic is the most useful”, said the architect of the municipal budget, who suggested that in the current circumstances it would make no sense for the municipal groups to say no to the numbers presented by the local government.
The deputy mayor avoided any pronouncement on the possibility of Collboni submitting to a question of confidence as a way to approve this budget at the beginning of April, an option that has no place in the discourse of the Socialists for the coming days – also they apply the holistic philosophy of “step by step” adopted by the mayor – but which they see as safe if the opposition does not give in. In this sense, Valls assured that there is room for maneuver to modify the budget during the express negotiation that he will hold before Tuesday with the opposition groups, although he wanted to make it clear that what they will not do is give up the project .
The political leader of municipal finances listed some of the major projects and investments planned in the budget, such as the reform of the Rambla (eight million this year out of a total of 48 million during this term), the coverage of the round of Above (six million), the new Abaceria market in Gràcia (12.9 million), the air conditioning plan for the schools (13.6), the improvement of the groundwater network (14.4), social emergency accommodation, food for vulnerable families and other policies against inequality (30), public space maintenance investments (30) and the neighborhood plan (30 million).
Valls emphasized that it is the highest budget in the history of the City Council, although the growth of 5.9% is below the average of the previous years, which was close to 7%. And this, he added, without increasing the fiscal pressure on Barcelona residents and reducing the need for external credit.
The political manager of municipal finances highlighted the “social” nature of the accounts put up for consideration by the opposition. Current expenditure has increased by 6.9% compared to last year’s budgets, while the items included in the category of social services and social promotion reach 438.7 million euros. Likewise, Valls highlighted the 419 million to continue the public space (cleaning, maintenance, sewerage…) and the 396 million for the area of ??safety and prevention. He also assured that the City Council has the mechanisms and resources to deal with issues such as climate change and the effects of the drought.
