Puerto del Rosario approves 2026 budget surpassing €63 million

The City Council of Puerto del Rosario approved on Thursday, in an initial vote, the General Budget of Revenues and Expenditures for 2026, amounting to €63,347,397.75 – an increase of almost 12 % compared with the previous fiscal year.

The accounts show a stronger municipal fiscal capacity aimed at consolidating essential services, boosting investments, and maintaining the social commitment, under a policy of financial stability, the council said after the budget debate.

Opposition groups presented a series of amendments that were not accepted by the governing coalition (CC‑PSOE). Thirteen amendments came from Fuerteventura Avanza, fourteen from the Popular Group, several from the unaffiliated councillor Miguel Rastrero, and eight from AMF.

In the final vote, the budget was approved with 12 votes in favour – 11 from the governing coalition and one from the unaffiliated councillor Javier Monserrat (elected by Fuerteventura Avanza, who broke with his group a year ago). The eight councillors from PP, Fuerteventura Avanza and AMF against it.

Reinforcement ofThe budget allocates the bulk resources to the ordinary functioning of the municipality. Current and personnel expenses together exceed €49 million. Key line items include:

• Road cleaning, waste collection and treatment: > €3.5 million
• Public lighting: ≈ €2.5 million
• Parks, gardens and green areas: > €2.4 million
• Personnel costs: €21.8 million

Investments and Urban Transformation

Real investments total more than €4.3 million, earmarked for:

• Rehabilitation of public roads and sidewalks
• Universal accessibility improvements
• Pedestrianisation of Avenida Primero de Mayo
• Works in neighbourhoods and villages, and upgrades to parks, gardens and shaded areas
• Public equipment, sports facilities and the municipal coastline

Social Protection

The municipality dedicates over €2.5 million to transfers and social aid, ensuring continuity of programmes such as home assistance, tele‑assistance, and support for the elderly, children and families. It also provides emergency social aid exceeding €350,000 and assistance to vulnerable groups and people with functional diversity.

Education, Culture and Sport

The 2026 budget backs education, culture, sport and citizen participation, funding the maintenance of schools, educational programmes, school transport, cultural events, popular festivals, support for associations and municipal sports schools.

Financial Stability

The budget growth is achieved while preserving the municipality’s economic stability: financial expenses are reduced and a contingency fund is set aside to face unforeseen events.

“The 2026 budget strengthens the City Council’s ability to respond to the real needs of the municipality, consolidating public services, driving important investments and maintaining a firm social commitment,” said Mayor David de Vera.

“This is a rigorously planned budget that channels economic growth into improving the city, reinforcing services and executing necessary investments, without increasing superfluous spending or jeopardising financial stability,” added Councilor for Economy and Finance Juan Manuel Verdugo.

PP Criticises Tax Hikes and Increased Festival Spending

The Popular Party rejected the 2026 municipal budget, calling it continuist and out of touch with neighbourhood demands. Its main criticisms focus on:

• Tax increases, especially the waste collection levy, for which the PP proposed a €1.5 million reduction in projected revenue, arguing that the Cabildo should compensate the municipality for hosting the island’s waste‑treatment plant.
• Higher spending on festivals, estimated at around €1 million, versus social aid of roughly €0.5 million and insufficient investment in sports infrastructure.
• Lack of new construction projects, limited to already announced works such as the Primero de Mayo boulevard and the municipal library renovation.

The PP presented fourteen amendments aimed at lowering fiscal pressure and reinforcing road resurfacing, lighting, sports facilities, rental assistance and school‑cleaning services.

Fuerteventura Avanza: A “Project‑less” and “End‑of‑Cycle” Budget

Fuerteventura Avanza denounced the 2026 budget as reflecting an exhausted administration lacking vision and strategic planning in a pivotal year for Puerto del Rosario. The group argues the budget merely “gets by” and fails to lay foundations for municipal development.

Their proposals include:

• Resurfacing of urban and rural roads
• Housing and rental support measures
• Strengthening grassroots sport and local clubs
• Actions in neighbourhoods and villages that have been pending for years

FA contends that the budget ignores basic citizen priorities, such as a comprehensive road‑asphalting plan, structural housing measures, and the creation of new sports facilities. The party blames political will, not resources, for the shortcomings.

AMF’s Amendments: Over €2 Million for Bridges, Fairgrounds and Housing

The Municipal Assemblies of Fuerteventura (AMF) also opposed the 2026 budget, claiming it does not meet the municipality’s real needs. AMF submitted amendments totaling €2,020,535, targeting:

• Housing aid, raising the rental assistance ceiling from €200,000 to €630,535 and revising eligibility criteria.
• Infrastructure projects such as the Puerto Lajas bridge, €1 million for new sports facilities, repair of the wrestling arena roof, and the underground passage at the Reloj roundabout.
• Drafting the Puerto del Rosario fairground project and supporting the Association of Small Ruminant Veterinarians.

To fund these proposals, AMF suggested cutting institutional advertising, events and promotional actions, arguing for a shift toward policies with direct impact on citizens.