Arona Approves €138 Million Budget Amid Heated Plenary Session and Opposition Walkout

Arona’s municipal budget of 138 million euros has been approved following a heated plenary session that saw two socialist councilors expelled. The budget passed thanks to the absolute majority of the ruling tripartite coalition—the People’s Party (PP), Canary Coalition (CC), and Vox—while the PSOE and Más por Arona voted against it, and Nueva Canarias abstained.

The bulk of the funding, nearly 74 million euros, is dedicated to operational costs, including maintenance, cleaning, and basic service contracts. Mayor Fátima Lemes’s administration describes the budget as a move toward administrative stability. It represents a 5.16% increase over last year and includes funding for infrastructure projects like the Las Galletas promenade, the El Palm-Mar civic center, and improvements to sanitation and security.

The opposition, however, has criticized the government’s approach to housing and spending. While the local government says 8.5 million euros is earmarked for land acquisition to support affordable housing, the PSOE and Más por Arona argue that there is no specific funding for social rent or a dedicated municipal housing office. Socialist spokesperson José Julián Mena also questioned the legitimacy of the vote, claiming the expulsion of his colleagues was a tactic to manipulate the outcome.

Disagreements also arose over spending priorities. Opposition members pointed out that the budget allocates three million euros for public works compared to 2.7 million for events, festivities, and institutional communication, arguing that this shows a lack of vision for real change. In response, Finance Councilor Guacimara Tavío maintained that the budget is technically sound and ensures the continued delivery of essential public services.

The 138-million-euro figure covers the City Council, its autonomous bodies, and the municipal company Adesa. With one councilor absent, the session highlighted a deep political divide in Arona: while the government claims the municipality is entering a new phase of planning, the opposition insists the budget fails to provide effective support for vulnerable families.