Date Published: 26/11/2020

ARCHIVED - San Javier Council reallocates € 1.4m of festivities money for Covid-related expenses

Money normally spent on summer cultural events, sporting competitions and festivities has been re-allocated to pay for additional measures required during the coronavirus pandemic

The mayor of San Javier José Miguel Luengo, has reported that the € 1.4m not spent this year on social, sporting and cultural events due to the coronavirus pandemic, is being used to offset the additional expenses incurred by the council due to the virus.

Part of the money is also being used to repair damage caused by the floods last year which caused considerable destruction along the coastline of the Mar Menor.

The costs incurred by the health sector have amounted to € 1,181,000 due to the regulations and sanitary measures that have had to be followed and the various reforms needed in the health centers to facilitate them.

A further € 242,000 has been allocated to social services and € 115,000 for the education sector to cover the additional costs of disinfection and cleaning in order to comply with the regulations set by the government for the return to school.

Additional money has also been spent on other improvements, Civil Protection has required additional resources, investment has been made into new technologies to improve the online functioning of the local Administration, and infrastructure and sanitary equipment has also required a cash injection.

José Miguel Luengo highlighted that in addition to the unforeseen expenses, that the council has been forced to absorb a 9.5 percent drop in municipal revenues, 4.3 million euros. The fall in income is due to the decision not to apply the rubbish collection tax for local businesses, and not to pass on a water price increase to residents, as well as the exemption of the terrace tax for the hostelry, which remains in place throughout 2021, a fall in construction licenses, and reduction in tax income, all due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The re-allocation of funds, is, the mayor believes, a practical way to cover the costs of the pandemic without borrowing to meet the costs.