Compromís harshly criticizes the drastic reduction of funds allocated to the municipalities and associations of the Marina Alta for social benefits in extraordinary situations derived from the economic and energy crisis, as well as for the reception of Ukrainian refugees. The budget has gone from 3,5 million euros in 2023 to only 912.000 euros in 2024.
The Compromís group in the Alicante Provincial Council has expressed its deep indignation at the decision of the provincial institution to cut more than 14 million euros in subsidies destined to municipalities and associations for the year 2024. This cut represents a serious setback for the entities local communities, which depend on these funds to promote extraordinary social measures, such as support for vulnerable families in the acquisition of essential products, school supplies, medicines, as well as the payment of rent for their habitual residence and the costs of basic supplies such as water , electricity and gas. In addition, this aid would make it possible to strengthen the staff of municipal Social Services and offer support to refugee families from Ukraine.
Marina Alta is one of the most affected regions, with a cut of more than 2,5 million euros, leaving it with just over 900.000 euros in 2024, compared to the 3,5 million received in 2023. Dénia, for example, has seen a reduction of 140.555 euros, going from 254.757 euros to 114.202 euros.
Most of the municipalities in the region are part of the associations of Social Services of Pego, L'Atzúvia and Les Valls and the Association of Social Services Marina Alta (MASSMA), which offer services to municipalities such as Gata, Xaló or Ondara. These entities have suffered a reduction of more than 1,5 million euros. The Commonwealth of Pego, L'Atzúvia and Les Valls has suffered a cut of 288.675 euros, while the MASSMA has seen a decrease of 1.277.866 euros, going from 1.676.598 euros in 2023 to only 398.732 euros in 2024.
This cut is added to the more than 3 million euros cut in the main annual plan of the Provincial Council, the +CERCA, leaving the Marina Alta with 5,5 million less in resources compared to the previous year.
The spokesperson for Compromís, Ximo Perles, has declared that "this cut is a direct attack on the municipalities and associations of the Marina Alta, which struggle daily to offer basic services in a context of extreme economic and social difficulty. "Cutting more than 2,5 million euros at a time like this is absolutely unacceptable and demonstrates total insensitivity on the part of the Provincial Council."
According to Perles, and as has been pointed out since the beginning of the legislature, the economic cuts of 2024 are a consequence of the disastrous inheritance that the government of Toni Pérez has received from his predecessor, the current president of the Generalitat, Carlos Mazón. "Mr. Mazón left a Provincial Council mortgaged and suffocated by his electoral commitments, with a remainder of the treasury committed to carrying out large projects that never arrive, such as the congress palaces, and with repeated expenditures on electoral propaganda."
| Entity | Subsidy 2023(€) | Subsidy 2024(€) | Difference (€) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benissa | 196389 | 47625 | -148764 |
| benitatxell | 117369 | 28418 | -88951 |
| Calp | 200000 | 79662 | -120338 |
| Dénia | 254757 | 114202 | -140555 |
| Xàbia | 358772 | 86839 | -271933 |
| Teulada | 197239 | 48275 | -148964 |
| EATIM Jesus Poor | 29116 | 0 | -29116 |
| EATIM La Xara | 75798 | 18187 | -57611 |
| Community of Social Services of Pego, L'Atzúbia and Les Valls | 379008 | 90333 | -288675 |
| MASSMA | 1676598 | 398732 | -1277866 |
| TOTAL | 3485046 | 912273 | -2572773 |
For her part, Alba Pérez, councilor of Compromís and vice president of MASSMA, mentioned: "This cut of more than 1,2 million will endanger the continuity of social programs and the possibility of reaching all the necessary benefits in basic services." . The PP always cuts back on social services and endangers fundamental rights; "It is necessary to protect the resources for social care as appropriate, because they are the tool to have a more just society."
Compromís demands an immediate rectification by the Provincial Council and a reallocation of funds that allows municipalities and associations to continue providing the services that citizens need. «We cannot allow short-sighted political decisions to mortgage the future of our towns and cities. This cut is one more example of the lack of commitment of this Provincial Council with its people.
