San Miguel de Abona Faces Institutional Crisis Over Record €31M Budget Approval
San Miguel de Abona faces an institutional crisis after the socialist opposition walked out of a plenary session to protest the government's refusal to extend the debate period for a record 31.11 million euro budget.
San Miguel de Abona is facing an institutional crisis following the initial approval of its 2026 budget. The proposed 31.11 million euro budget—the largest in the municipality’s history and a 10.44% increase over last year—was met with a walkout by the socialist (PSOE) municipal group during Monday’s plenary session.
The conflict centers on the timing of the budget process. The PSOE claims they were deliberately blocked from debating their proposals because the deadline to submit amendments coincided with the Information Commission meeting on June 24. Party spokesperson José Carlos Rodríguez Rodríguez argued that this lack of time prevented proper oversight and undermined the democratic process, as the government refused to grant an extension for discussion.
The governing team, led by Mayor Arturo González (Coalición Canaria), maintains that the budget is necessary to support the municipality’s rapid population growth. Finance Councilor Antonio Manuel Rodríguez highlighted that the plan prioritizes financial stability, with 15.97 million euros—nearly 43% of the total—earmarked for public services, urban maintenance, and sanitation. The social sector will receive 3.74 million euros, covering emergency aid, study grants, and employment programs for over 80 people.
The budget also includes an initial 2.05 million euros for investments, a figure the government expects to grow through external funding. Planned projects include cemetery improvements, new parking on the TF-28, and IT upgrades. These are in addition to ongoing projects worth over 14 million euros, such as the Llano del Camello Sports Complex, lighting upgrades in Golf del Sur, and a new roof for the Guargacho sports center.
The tension at the plenary session underscores the difficulty of reaching a consensus during a period of rapid growth. While the local government argues that these measures are essential to meet rising citizen demands—including a 7.8% increase in public safety funding—the opposition insists that the lack of open debate threatens the legitimacy of the City Council’s decision-making.