Vilaflor Council Faces Political Backlash Over New Financial Adjustment Plan

Vilaflor City Council is facing a heated political debate after confirming a new financial adjustment plan—the second in less than ten years. While the 20,000-euro adjustment is relatively small, it has sparked a sharp disagreement between the local government and the opposition.

The governing PSOE party, which holds an absolute majority, argues that the move is necessary to secure external grants. They explain that major infrastructure projects—including the La Escalona Path, the Salguero water tank, the Angola-Boca Cascajos pumping station, and a municipal parking lot—require the council to cover 10% to 20% of the costs. The government also points to rising public service costs and payroll increases caused by inflation. The PSOE maintains that it makes more sense to accept this minor budgetary adjustment than to cancel millions of euros in investments, especially since the municipality still holds a 795,000-euro treasury surplus.

Coalición Canaria (CC) sees the situation differently. Spokesperson Jesús Quijada described the plan as a "covert economic intervention," arguing that the need for three budget changes in just four months proves a lack of long-term planning. The opposition views the adjustment as a sign of financial instability that threatens the town’s solvency.

The dispute has turned personal, with the PSOE accusing the nationalists of trying to stir up public alarm ahead of the upcoming local elections. The Socialists have challenged Quijada to provide evidence for his claims, calling his comments irresponsible. This clash highlights the common struggle in small municipalities: trying to balance strict spending rules with the need for essential local investments.