Calpe's municipal debt

CALPE’S municipal debt exceeds €70m, which is more than the original estimated amount of €54million. This was announced by the town hall following the preparation of the budget for 2012.

As such, next year’s budget will involve “spending and staff cuts and revenue efficiency,” according to Mayor Cesar Sanchez. “We will do more with less.” The plan is to reduce the current expenditure by 20 per cent.

“The only item that is not going to be cut is social policies and we do not intend to raise taxes, instead the policy will be to freeze taxes,” said Mr Sanchez. “The municipal staff is unsustainable,” said the mayor in regards to the impending downsizing in staff.

“We are the town hall with the larges number of civil servants and workers in the Valencian Region, with one out of every 50 residents working at the town hall.”

“To achieve a stable budget, it needs to be reduced by €2million and we should only spend what comes in to the municipal coffers.” The mayor announced he also wants the budget to have the support of all political groups.

Meanwhile, evidence of the municipality’s dire financial situation can be seen around town.

Zebra crossings are worn and in some cases have almost disappeared, which could cause danger to pedestrians. The crossings that seem to have been worn down the most include one in the city centre, Olta school crossing – which is near a busy supermarket – and the one on Avendia del Pais Valencia and Avenida de Diputacion as well as ones by the sports area.

By Nicole Hallett
Photo credit: th-dolby