La Oliva set to approve its largest budget in January and unveil a tourist tax

The La Oliva Town Hall is entering 2026 without having approved the municipal budget yet, a situation that has drawn criticism from the opposition but which Mayor Isaí Blanco attributes to a strategic decision. “It’s pure economic and financial strategy,” he told La Voz de Fuerteventura on Radio Insular, adding that the accounts are expected to be approved this January.

Blanco recalled that the council started in 2017, when nationalists took the reins, with a budget of about €17 million. “We took the administration in the ICU dying and now we have a leading administration in the Canary Islands,” he said, emphasizing that budget growth has been steady and the result of long‑term planning. He projected that the initial 2026 budget will be around €50 million, a figure that could rise to over €60 million or even €70 million with external funds thanks to the dynamism of the office that manages grant acquisition.

Economic and Fiscal Measures

Economy and Finance councilor Juan José Rodríguez explained that the delay is due to the parallel processing of two fiscal ordinances that will increase revenue and, consequently, the council’s spending capacity. The tourist tax, to be introduced for the first time, will follow the models of Mogán and the waste tax.

Rodríguez noted that the current provisional budget of €42 million is already the highest in the municipality’s history and that 2025 saw more than €66 million in total resources when external funds are added.

A recent grant of €10.7 million from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda—the largest ever received by La Oliva—will finance strategic actions over the next four years, including the completion of Calle Guirre in Corralejo. “The work on Calle Guirre alone costs more than €3 million,” he said, pointing out that the ordinary investment chapter barely reaches €2.5 million per year.

Tourist Tax: The Second Most Important Direct Revenue for the Municipal Treasury

Both officials confirmed that the upcoming tourist tax is seen as essential to sustain public services in a municipality under strong tourist pressure. Rodríguez said the tax could become “the second most important direct income for the Town Hall, only behind the property tax (IBI).”

“The municipality has about 30,000 residents but serves roughly 60,000 people daily. To serve double the population we need economic resources,” he explained.

A draft economic study proposes a rate of €1.05 per person per night, based on a strictly technical formula that reflects the cost of municipal services linked to tourism. The dossier awaits the required legal opinions before being presented to the plenary. The council expects the tax to be approved in the coming months, but the 2026 budget currently assumes only 50 % of the projected annual collection, pending final approval and publication, which would allow implementation from the second half of the year.

Waste‑Collection Contract Renewal

The council is also renegotiating the waste‑collection contract. The new agreement would raise the annual cost from €1.8 million to about €6.5 million, allowing a substantial increase in personnel, vehicles, and collection routes. This upgrade is tied to the mandatory waste tax; residents currently pay €30 per year and will see that rise to €60, still keeping La Oliva below the average of other municipalities, with the greater burden falling on the tourism sector.

“We Don’t Want One More Resident or One More Tourist”

Urban planning and growth policy formed another core part of the interview. La Oliva still operates under subsidiary rules from 1989 while drafting a new General Plan, now entering a decisive phase.

“Now is the time to make decisions and hold meetings with neighbors, business sectors, and community groups,” Blanco said, adding that he does not expect the General Plan to be approved during this legislative term. “Given how things are evolving, I doubt we’ll have an approved General Plan in this legislature,” he remarked.

Blanco highlighted that “with the land currently buildable, without re‑qualifying any new land, the municipality could quadruple its size.” He used this claim to counter opposition criticism, particularly from Drago Canarias, which has warned about tourist growth in areas like El Cotillo.

He defended the council’s duty to respect consolidated urban rights: “If a property owner complies with the regulations, we must grant the license.” He accused the opposition of maintaining a “simplistic and populist discourse” that ignores the legal framework. Blanco also criticized national leaders, stating:

“I always say Pedro is a liar and his team—these populists—only want votes,” he said, targeting the central government and its allies in La Oliva.

Reiterating his administration’s stance, Blanco stressed a “very conservative” position against further population or tourist growth:

“We don’t want one more resident in the municipality, nor one more tourist… We have 32,000 inhabitants, about 30 k tourists, and between 60 k and 70 k people sleeping in our town each night. I think that’s enough.”

Expanding the Local Police Force

On housing, Blanco highlighted ongoing public‑housing projects in collaboration with the Canary Islands Government, in areas such as La Bocaina and Morro Francisco, which will expand the rental‑housing stock. Rehabilitation programmes are also underway in various neighborhoods, funded by external sources.

Security is another priority. The governing group plans to increase the Local Police force to over 60 officers before the end of the term, alongside improvements in equipment, training, and specialized units. Rodríguez noted that this is a top community demand, alongside waste management and housing, and proudly mentioned that the council has no sick‑leave expenses.

Lifeguard Service: A Public‑Safety Issue

The interview concluded with the contentious lifeguard service. The council has already approved a partial termination of the contract with the Red Cruz due to breaches, following a favorable advisory council report, and is now preparing a new tender.

Rodríguez acknowledged that lifeguards are under‑paid under the current national collective agreement, which sets low salaries and limits improvements. The council will split the procurement into two independent tenders rather than a single contract with two lots, as originally planned.

The move aims to unlock the situation in Corralejo—the higher‑volume lot—so that a new contract can be operational for the summer season. For the El Cotillo lot, the council continues to seek a resolution, either by mutual agreement or other administrative means.

“(Lifeguards) risk their lives every time something happens,” Rodríguez said, emphasizing that dignifying the service is a matter of public safety.