Elda's Budget Exceeds 50 Million Euros with Frozen Taxes and Increased Revenue

The Mayor of Elda, Rubén Alfaro, has unveiled the municipal budget for 2025, which surpasses 50 million euros for the first time, without any increase in taxes and fees. He was accompanied by the Finance Councillor, Fernando Gómez, and the spokesperson for Elda para Todas, Iñaki Pérez. The budget will be approved next Thursday in the municipal council meeting.

Alfaro highlighted that the anticipated revenue increase does not stem from tax and fee hikes, but rather from a greater contribution of state taxes. Specifically, 1.5 million euros more than the previous year due to population growth and increased economic activity. Additionally, another 500,000 euros in revenue comes from interest generated by the town hall's bank deposits.

The budget areas with the most significant increases include Culture (47%); Industry, Commerce, SMEs, and Tourism (24.5%); Education (16.2%); and Sports (13.8%), "demonstrating a commitment to clubs, associations, collectives, and entities in our city, with nearly two million euros dedicated to funding their activities," stated the mayor.

Similarly, the municipal budget includes an increase in the allocation for new hires because, as the Mayor of Elda continued, "the Spanish Government has raised the Minimum Wage to benefit workers, who five years ago had a meagre minimum wage inherited from Mariano Rajoy's government, and now it has significantly improved, enhancing the working conditions of those employed by the town hall through external companies. These budgets demonstrate, contrary to the pessimists, that by raising the minimum wage, as the Government of Pedro Sánchez has done, the economy thrives, becomes more robust, we receive more state revenue, and we can implement better public service policies."

In conclusion, the Elda mayor continued, "a significant amount of revenue is being mobilised." To the 50.1 million euros of the budget, nearly 25 million euros from the Treasury Surplus must be added. "If all planning is fulfilled, this year our city's town hall will mobilise nearly 75 million euros," Alfaro emphasised.