Municipal budgets are essential tools for the normal functioning of a Town Hall and for carrying out investments in the municipality. However, several local governments have started the year without an approved economic roadmap, and some, like Trapagaran and Sestao, have not even approved a budget in the three years of the current legislative term.
The most delicate situation is in Trapagaran, in the Mining Zone, where the PSE governs in minority. The PNV has criticized that the governing team has not only failed to approve a budget but has not even presented a draft for debate. The jeltzale spokesperson, Ainhoa Santisteban, stated that "it is a lost legislature," with budgets extended "since 2022." She added, "We are relying on budget modifications for day-to-day matters, and what we have does not cover real needs. We are losing opportunities for improvement; there has not been a single project in these years. It's a shame because there is a treasury surplus of over 5 million euros, but without approved accounts, we cannot use it."
“"It is a lost legislature. We are relying on budget modifications for day-to-day matters, and what we have does not cover real needs. We are losing opportunities for improvement; there has not been a single project in these years."
The mayor, Miguel Ángel Gómez Viar, admits that the situation is "quite regrettable" and attributes it to the "mess at the sports center." The company Emtesport, which provides services at the town's facilities, has been operating without a contract for over ten years, an anomaly dating back to 2012. Although the Town Hall agreed to continue the service without a contract while new tenders were being prepared, the governing team, with the PNV holding the Mayor's office, did not put it out to tender for over a decade. Due to rising prices, the company has demanded one million euros to alleviate the economic "imbalance," but the Town Hall has commissioned an audit to verify the actual figure, and the problem remains unresolved.
In Sestao, the situation is similar but with nuances. Despite the fact that PNV and PSE govern jointly with an absolute majority, no budget has been approved, having been extended since February 2023 "due to a lack of municipal staff." However, the councilors have already presented a draft of 55.7 million euros for this year and expect its approval soon. Other municipalities such as Barakaldo and Santurtzi have only approved one budget in three years. In Barakaldo, the 2024 accounts were extended to the following year, and work is now underway on a new document of 151 million euros. In Santurtzi, the PNV's minority government approved a 2024 budget with the support of EH Bildu and Elkarrekin Podemos, but EH Bildu denounced non-compliance the following year. Nevertheless, the jeltzales have presented a draft of 70 million euros to the opposition with the intention of reaching agreements.
