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Bermeo Town Hall Defends Heritage Management Amidst Parish Concerns, Proposes Increased Funding

The local government clarifies its stance on compensating public event costs and details a significant financial increase for religious sites.

Generic image: Stone facade of the Bermeo town hall, with an ornate balcony and iron railings, afternoon sunlight casting shadows.
IA

Generic image: Stone facade of the Bermeo town hall, with an ornate balcony and iron railings, afternoon sunlight casting shadows.

The Bermeo Town Hall has defended its management of religious heritage and responded to concerns from the Santa María and Santa Eufemia parishes, detailing a proposed increase in financial contributions.

Following an informative assembly convened by the parish communities of Santa María and Santa Eufemia in Bermeo, where the draft of a new agreement was criticized and a perceived neglect of religious heritage by the Town Hall was denounced, the Bermeo council has issued a statement to defend its management and provide technical and economic context to the ongoing negotiation process.
Addressing the public's unease from the past weekend, municipal sources have emphasized that the agreement's objective is not to transfer costs to the Church, but rather to fairly compensate for the operational expenses generated by public events. In this regard, the Town Hall has revealed that the financial contribution has increased progressively since 2018. The proposal for this year includes a particularly significant rise, from the current 2,400 euros to a fixed annual amount of 4,000 euros, a budgetary effort reflecting "a clear willingness to reach a balanced and reasonable agreement between both parties."
The local government has recalled that in numerous neighboring municipalities, such concessions are made free of charge. Despite this, Bermeo maintains its commitment to co-financing under a logic of co-responsibility. The new document also aims to organize the calendar, projecting the cession of both temples for a maximum of eight annual concerts and safeguarding the use of the portico under the same traditional conditions.
Furthermore, the Town Hall has expressed regret over not receiving a response to its proposal for revitalizing the Old Town, which involved locating the Interpretation Centre of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe within Santa María, while maintaining Kabidxe's activity. Nevertheless, the council insists that this matter must be addressed through institutional collaboration and mutual understanding, with the goal of continuing to build a stable framework that allows for the compatibility of the municipality's cultural activity, the general interest, and the proper conservation and enhancement of Bermeo's historical heritage.
The Council concluded by thanking the parishes for their historical collaboration and reiterating that there is still sufficient room to reach a consensus based on the general interest.

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