The mayoress of Mijas, Ana Mata (PP), along with the councillor for Economy and Finance, Mario Bravo (PP), presented the proposed Budget for 2024 on Tuesday, which will be submitted for initial approval at the municipal plenary session on December 29th.

These Budgets amount to 129,687,168.70 euros, which represents an increase of 16.59% with regard to the current extended budgets for 2022, with special emphasis on the areas of Town Planning and Infrastructures, which will have almost 2.5 million and more than 11 million euros, respectively.   

The drafting of these annual accounts was one of the "priorities" of the government team chaired by Ana Mata, after the previous local government had extended the 2022 accounts for 2023. In this regard, the mayoress stressed that these Budgets reflect "the commitment of this executive with the residents of Mijas, providing the Town Hall with responsible accounts that will achieve a better functioning and development of the municipality, as well as boosting its position at national and international level". 

However, Mata has clarified that we are facing "the best Budgets that could have been drawn up, which mark the path that Mijas should follow and which will give security to the residents. Like any family, Mijas cannot afford to be without a budget". Even so, she has expressed her satisfaction at what it means to present accounts "that comply with all the legal requirements and on time".

Social policies

In terms of social spending, the Budget amounts to more than 7.6 million euros, highlighting the increase in spending on Senior Citizens, which recorded a rise of 7.16%, that of nursery schools by 51.38% or the Open University, with an increase of 46.53%. However, the bulk of this item is earmarked for social services with 3,307,100 euros, confirming, according to the local government in a statement, "the firm commitment of the government team to social policies, in which prevention and awareness of equality play an important role".

In the same way, the funds earmarked for subsidies to non-profit organisations or associations will be maintained in accordance with the municipal strategic plan for subsidies to ensure that all the associations working in the municipality have the same opportunities when applying for the aid available.

The mayoress explained that one of the objectives of these annual accounts is to "strengthen the department for Employment Promotion and Business Development in order to generate wealth and, therefore, favour job creation". Proof of this is that these two areas account for more than 300,000 euros.

For his part, Bravo recalled that the drafting of these budgets has been carried out in 34 working days, demonstrating that they are a priority for the government team "because the Budget is the rudder of a ship called the Town Hall and we need to set a clear course that will take us to a good port".

Projects, infrastructures and works

Mata stressed during the presentation of the accounts that these budgets will allow, "with great effort", that in 2024 the Town Hall will be able to take on key infrastructure projects. 

Among the different actions planned, there are three that stand out in particular, to which 300,000 euros are allocated for the drafting of the projects detailed below: 

A project to rebuild the existing building above La Puente, recovering its original appearance in its entirety and thus reinforcing the character of Mijas Pueblo as a historic-artistic site. 

New municipal facilities in the surroundings of Cortijo Don Elías in Las Lagunas which, in addition to the administrative offices, will include spaces for leisure and commercial activities. 

The third of these actions is a sports complex in La Cala, in the area of Cortijo Colorado, which will respond, according to the government, "to the neighbourhood's demand due to the shortage of this type of facilities due to the increase in population that this urban centre has experienced in recent years". 

In addition, the municipal accounts allocate 100,000 euros for the health improvement infrastructure project, "one of the first commitments made by this government team", assures the town council. 

These Budgets also include proposals to unblock the Coastal Path, the extension and improvement of the football pitch in La Cala, the project for a new nature trail that runs from the El Lagarejo area to the Fuente de la Seda, the improvement of pedestrian traffic from Puerto de Los Pescadores to Osunillas and the adaptation of the Islas Marianas roundabout (Las Lagunas).

Mobility and digital modernisation plan

In terms of mobility, the budget has been increased by over 200% to carry out the urban mobility plan, "an unfinished business that a municipality of the size and population of Mijas cannot afford", said Mata.

As far as digital modernisation is concerned, 450,000 euros have been earmarked for the creation of the electronic file and digital administrative procedures, complying "at last, with the Law. These projects facilitate, accelerate and improve the management, transparency and communication of the Town Hall with citizens", added the government team.

The councillor for Finance has emphasised that work will be done to promote investment in Mijas and the consequent creation of employment, while at the same time speeding up the municipal administration, for which they are working on the implementation of a calendar of commitments so that the administration has a maximum period of time to respond to the needs. "There is no commitment without a deadline", he pointed out.

Other actions

In terms of environmental and waste collection actions, more than 6.8 million euros have been earmarked, while the cleaning service in the town has been allocated more than 4.3 million euros.

For its part, the department for Culture has seen its Budget increased by 7% to more than 1.5 million euros.

During his intervention, Bravo explained that, when drawing up the Budget, several criteria were taken into consideration: not to raise taxes, not to generate debt, to improve business activity to encourage investment in Mijas and to strengthen collaboration with other institutions, "as there are programmes from the European Union, the Regional Government of Andalusia and the Provincial Council which can finance many of the initiatives we want to carry out and which have not been taken advantage of in the past".

He also highlighted the contribution to Mijas Complementary Services, known as Renta Básica, to which 3.5 million euros have been allocated, "as in the previous five years, although we do not rule out extending it during the course of the year".

To conclude, the councillor for FInance added that the income will come from the IBI collected from the 62,803 urban properties registered in Mijas (42 million euros) which, together with other taxes and fees derived from the urban development activity and from the participation in the State and Junta de Andalucía's income, will make up the almost 130 million euros.

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