La Laguna Approves €218M 2026 Budget

La Laguna's local council initially approved its 2026 budget yesterday. The ruling coalition, made up of the PSOE and CC parties, voted in favour. Unidas se puede abstained, while Drago Verdes Canarias, PP, and Vox voted against it.

The extraordinary meeting began with Saúl Alberola being sworn in as a new councillor for Unidas se puede, taking over from Rubens Ascanio.

The City Council's budget for 2026 totals 218 million euros, a 4% increase. When including funds for autonomous bodies like Sports and Musical Activities, the Urban Planning Department, and Muvisa, the total 'consolidated' budget rises to 230 million euros.

These budgets will become official once they are published in the Official Gazette of the Province (BOP) and if no objections are raised during a public review period. In the meantime, the council also noted a decree yesterday that extends the 2025 budget, ensuring funds are available until the 2026 budget officially begins.

Finance Councillor Paqui Rivero opened the debate by outlining the new budget. She described it as a continuation of previous efforts, focusing on social policies, improving municipal services, and modernising them. Culture, security, mobility, and public works were also highlighted as key areas for the town's economic and social development. Ms. Rivero stressed that the budget is free of bank debt and meets all legal requirements. She detailed some significant allocations: over 26 million euros for Social Welfare (12% of the budget), 38.9 million for Municipal Services (an 8% increase), 22.7 million for Public Works and Infrastructure (up 18.54%), and 5.4 million for Housing, in addition to Muvisa's 11.5 million euros for the same sector.

A common criticism from opposition parties was the spending on 'advertising and propaganda.' They also pointed out that the rules for submitting amendments haven't been updated.

PP spokesperson Juan Antonio Molina called the 2026 budget 'a copy and paste of the 2025 budget,' with minor changes made for an upcoming election campaign. He argued that the government keeps proposing the same initiatives year after year but fails to implement them. Because of this, he stated that 'the PP will not give this Government an inch' and chose not to submit any amendments, citing a lack of willingness to engage in dialogue.

Vox spokesperson Manuel Alejandro Rodríguez Pardo criticised the budget as 'a deliberate mess designed to hide questionable entities.' He also claimed it 'proposes things we know won't be fulfilled,' noting 'seventy modifications we have had this year' as evidence.

Drago Verdes Canarias, through spokesperson Alberto Rodríguez, put forward 17 partial amendments. He said these reflected their vision for the municipality and aimed, 'with the utopian intention,' to ensure that previously approved but unimplemented council motions would finally be carried out. Their proposals suggested taking funds from tourism, festivities, and advertising. Specific amendments included protecting Guanche heritage, funding youth mental health, creating a municipal office for affordable rent mediation, and introducing bus line 610 for university students.

Unidas se puede also submitted 17 partial amendments and one total amendment. Co-spokesperson Idaira Afonso stated that the budget 'has a lot of room for improvement,' arguing it lacked 'a firm or decisive commitment to housing' and bolder measures. Saúl Alberola added that the 2026 budget contained no 'major reforms,' instead consolidating 'the inertia in which this governing group is stuck,' which he criticised as having a 'political cost.'

Representing the local government, CC spokesperson Fran Hernández praised the upcoming budgets for their 'rigour, seriousness, and transparency.' He also highlighted that La Laguna 'will be one of the few municipalities in the Canary Islands that will build housing in 2026,' calling it 'a budget for governing and advancing, not for making noise.'

PSOE spokesperson Badel Albelo defended the budgets as 'realistic,' stating that they prioritise 'prudence, responsibility, and commitment to the general interest' given the current national and international situation. He drew a distinction between opposition parties that work constructively and those that simply 'make noise.'

Finance Councillor Paqui Rivero criticised Vox's idea of a 'conspiratorial budget' and the PP spokesperson for not submitting 'a single amendment.' Addressing the amendments from Drago and Unidas, she thanked them for their efforts. However, she explained that many of Drago's proposals couldn't be accepted because they were either 'already included in the budget' or were problematic due to their proposed funding sources and amounts.

Regarding Unidas se puede's amendments, Ms. Rivero stated that the local government agreed to accept eight. These approved proposals included a study on the municipality's migratory situation, new outdoor calisthenics and bio-healthy exercise facilities, a study for the Valle de Guerra Senior Citizens' Centre project, and a plan to recover buildings and private homes for affordable rent, alongside direct aid for private rental costs.

Unidas se puede then gave the local government 'a vote of confidence,' requesting a commitment to regular follow-up meetings for the approved measures. The government accepted this, leading Unidas se puede to withdraw its total amendment.