A new budgetary stage
This Friday, December 20, the Torredembarra City Council will meet in an extraordinary plenary session at 9:30 a.m. to approve the general budget for the next fiscal year 2025. The government team has presented a proposal that amounts to €29,278,369, reflecting an increase of 5.87% compared to the previous year’s budget.
Investments and financial sustainability
Eduard Rovira, Councilor for Finance, has explained in detail the different components of this budget, highlighting the importance of maintaining the structure of services that the municipality currently offers. In his words, “although this implies a considerable effort, it is essential to guarantee the well-being of citizens, while ensuring that the level of debt remains below 50%.”
Increase in remuneration and services
The chapter dedicated to personnel experienced a growth of 2.59%, mainly due to the 2.5% increase in public employee salaries, standing at €11,900,000. At the same time, expenses on goods and services also grew by 7.79%, reaching €11,796,479.
Expense rationalization
Financial expenses have experienced a reduction of 9.61%, remaining at €395,000, thanks to the decrease in interest rates, positive news for the economic sustainability of the council.
Revenue: optimistic forecasts
In the area of income, there is an increase of €322,000 in the participation in state taxes, which will total €5,832,000, based on estimates from the Ministry of Finance. Contributions from the Tarragona Provincial Council are also expected for a total of €150,000 for current expenses and €363,820 for improvements to Carrer dels Filadors.
Taxes i taxes
Direct taxes will remain at a slight increase of 0.88%, while urban property tax is expected to collect €10,765,000. On the other hand, the forecast for capital gains income increases from €1,350,000 to €1,450,000, reflecting current trends.
Cost studies and updates
Mayor Vale Pino commented that the price updates for non-mandatory services are based on a comprehensive cost study. He stressed that the objective is to adjust the deficit without compromising the quality of services, with the aim of making them more equitable and sustainable.
Expenditure on educational services
For example, the Music School had an expenditure of €431,056, with a deficit of €299,294, while the Adult Education School had a similar deficit. In addition, the sports facilities and beach maintenance have significant deficits.
Betting on investments
The budget also foresees a 27.86% increase in investments, reaching €2,789,148.45. The outstanding investments include the replacement of the Alfa and Omega sculpture and the renovation of Carrer dels Filadors, as well as the creation of a section of bike lane.
Financing and debt
To facilitate these investments, a request for a loan of €2,200,000 is being contemplated, with an expected debt ratio of 45.17%, remaining below the legal limit.
Looking to the future
With this budget, Torredembarra seeks to face the challenges of 2025 with a clear vision of sustainability, efficiency and improvement of public services, reflecting a commitment to the well-being of its citizens. The implementation of this budget plan will not only benefit the local economy, but will also strengthen the social fabric of the municipality.
