The Mijas Town Hall approved on Wednesday 30th in the ordinary plenary session of April a budget amendment for a total of 7.413.304,68 euros. The main items to which this amount is allocated, coming from the surplus of the municipal coffers, are as follows: 2,088,000 euros for the area of Parks and Gardens, 1,800,000 for the Sports Department, 850,000 for the Beaches area and 650,000 euros for the acquisition of vehicles for the Fire Department. Regarding the latter, the councillor for Economy and Finance, Mario Bravo (PP), said that “we believe that it is better to have vehicles when they are needed. It is true that we rely on firefighters from other municipalities, as well as the forest firefighters, who are always willing to collaborate, but it is better to have our own vehicles. Although that collaboration is welcome, it shouldn’t be essential, we will try to rely on our own means”. Meanwhile, 175,000 euros are earmarked for cultural expenses and 100,000 euros for sports grants. 

 

Debate on the amendment

The opposition disagreed with this first amendment after the approval of the municipal budgets on the 14th of January, among other reasons, because, they pointed out, it has an unfavourable report from the Comptroller’s Office. The socialist spokesman, Roy Pérez, described the management as “poor” and said that “there are 1,000,051 euros of outstanding invoices as of December 31st, 2024, which you did not include in the budget. There is a profound economic imbalance in the budget and this is a reason to challenge it, any judge in his full capacity will see it”, said Pérez, who added that “you do not comply with anything: neither with the spending rule nor with budgetary stability and sustainability”. 

 

“On page 8 of 12 of the comptroller’s report there is a last line that shows the inclusion of the remaining 979,000 euros. So, before alarming people by suggesting an offence, consider that there was an invoice for 979,000 euros, that there was a credit retention for that amount and that for reasons beyond our control it was not paid at the time, and we have passed the invoice to 2025, and the money from Festivities has also been passed to 2025”, Bravo responded during his speech. 

Ciudadanos, for their part, considered that the amendment reflects a lack of foresight. “You are confusing investments with structural expenses. Haven’t you foreseen all this in the 2025 budget?” asked the spokesman for the party, José Carlos Martín, who asserted that “I believe that with 100 million euros in the bank, that on the 30th of April the government team has not defined how it wants to invest this money, except for these 7 million that it is bringing in now, it is a mistake”.

 

“Could we have included some of these expenses in the budget as you say? Yes, what happens is that the budget has to be balanced, so we included all the expenses that we could. Have some expenses been left out and we are going to include them in now, and this amendment is not only about investments, but also about expenses? That’s true”, said the councillor for Economy and Finance, Mario Bravo, who concluded by pointing out that “we still have plenty of margin between income and expenditure to increase the committed and ongoing expenses for the coming years”. 

 

The budget amendment was passed with the votes in favour of PP, Vox and PMP, while PSOE and Ciudadanos voted against. 

Parks and gardens

The amendment allows for an increase in the budget allocation for Parks and Gardens, with a total of €2,109,402.75, of which €1,719,899.95 will be allocated to the new maintenance contract for green spaces, as the current contract expired several years ago. This new contract will include a significantly wider range of services, a considerable increase in staff numbers, and will triple the surface area to be maintained. In addition, €389,502.80 will be allocated for the purchase, supply and installation of two new children’s play areas in La Butibamba Park and the El Esparragal recreational area.

Sports

With regard to the Sports Department, the budget amendment amounts to 1,970,000 euros, of which 1,800,000 euros will go to the companies that provide services at the various municipal sports facilities, while 100,000 euros will be used for grants to sports entities and institutions, and 60,000 euros for the supply and installation of seats for the stands of the main football pitch at the Regino Hernández Sports Centre, the purchase of six new baskets for the El Olmo open-air multi-sports court, and the supply of 14 goals for the municipal football school.

Beaches

For its part, the Beaches Department will increase its budget by 851,000 euros, of which 500,000 euros will be allocated to equipment and 351,000 euros to lifeguard and rescue services on the beaches of Mijas, as well as the payment of occupancy fees corresponding to the DPMT (Public Maritime Terrestrial Domain).

Fire Departments

Among the 667,600 euros of budget increase, 500,000 euros for a new fire engine, 75,000 euros for an all-terrain transport and rescue vehicle, 75,000 euros for a van to transport personnel and tools, as well as 48,500 euros for uniforms and technical clothing for personnel. 

Culture

The government team also highlights the 383,164.80 euros for the Culture Departmen, with special emphasis on the 76,000 euros for the Mijas Flamenco Festival, 42,000 euros for the classical music programme, 55,000 euros for technical and stage equipment for both the Manuel España Theatre and the auditorium at the La Cala Branch Office and 15,000 euros for furniture for a children’s library. 

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