Villena Increases Its Budget by Nearly 10% to 35.81 Million Euros

Mayor Fulgencio Cerdán and Finance Councillor Juan José Olivares presented the draft of the 2025 Municipal Budget this Wednesday, which is set to be approved in the extraordinary plenary session scheduled for April 15. The municipal accounts reflect one of the most expansive budgets in the city's history, with a growth of 9.6%, reaching a total of 35.81 million euros. The proposal is further strengthened by funds from the Municipal Land Heritage (PMS), allowing the investment figure for this fiscal year to rise to 5.62 million euros.

Cerdán noted that under his leadership, the accounts have been presented annually, which was exceptional in previous terms. The growth of the municipal budgets has been continuous. "The increase over the last six years has been 43%, and if we look back over the last 10 years, the Town Council's budget has grown by 63%." These accounts "confirm the economic solvency of the Town Council, one of the most financially sound in Spain, thanks to good management, criteria, and economic rigour," he added. The Town Council accumulates 17 million in surpluses, with a future forecast—according to the Finance Councillor—of another 20 million in revenue from construction licenses, mainly from photovoltaic plants. The municipal debt has remained at zero for several years.

Meanwhile, the Finance Councillor explained that revenue forecasts have been made "based on realistic criteria and under the principle of prudence." In this regard, they have relied on the Town Council's collection capacity for projects to be developed in the coming years.

Olivares recalled that the accounting imbalance the Town Council experienced has been resolved, caused "by a delay in state revenues and the settlement of certain taxes linked to urban development activities." However, although an Economic-Financial Plan will be implemented as required by law, "it is resolved thanks to the Town Council's economic capacity and accumulated resources."

The 2025 accounts include significant allocations in the expenditure chapter aimed at improving certain services and infrastructures. Specifically, among others, there is a forecast expenditure of 870,000 euros for street paving improvements; 1.49 million to increase street cleaning and improve waste collection services.

Additionally, the Parks and Gardens maintenance allocations grow by 55% with 569,000 euros. In the expenditure chapter, the Social Services department increases by 29%, allowing, among other things, to enhance services such as the Home Help Service.

The first councillor of Villena recalled that "an increase in the budgets is a commitment to improving services, infrastructures, and benefits aimed at enhancing the quality of life for residents." He highlighted that the government team achieves this without increasing taxes, beyond the rise in the waste fee established by the Crea Consortium in compliance with European regulations.

Overall, Villena will have 5.6 million euros in investments, both from the 2024 allocations, whose works are completed in this first phase of 2025, and those to be executed at the expense of the Municipal Land Heritage (PMS), as well as those included in the investment annex of this fiscal year's accounts.

In this regard, they amount to 2.93 million euros, an 11.4% increase compared to 2024. The most important allocations are for the refurbishment of the Town Hall (1.79 million) and those planned for the construction of a second sports hall (292,000 euros), a sports centre that adds another 72,000 for the lift for the old building.

To these allocations, significant works on the Zaricejo and La Garita roads must be added, amounting to 952,000 euros; 64,600 euros for the refurbishment of the Municipal Market and initial allocations for the projects to adapt the future building for the Municipal Archive and the Municipal Music Band's Rehearsal Room.