Adding up and taking away in Benidorm, Costa Blanca

OPPOSITION parties on Benidorm council, the PSOE socialists and centre-right Ciudadanos (Cs) are preparing amendments to the 2020 Budget.
Neither party was impressed by the draft document that Benidorm’s mayor Toni Perez presented just before Christmas and although the PSOE has not yet announced its proposals, Cs will propose converting all of Calle Ruzafaintoa semi-pedestrianised street at the next council meeting.
The same party wants lockers installed on Benidorm’s beaches so that beachgoers do not risk losing their belongings, or, worse, having them stolen. Other Cs’ amendments are a repetition of those proposed when the 2019 budget was announced and include a roof for the multi-sports track at the L’Illa municipal sports centre.
Dressing rooms and toilets are needed at the Patinodromo skating rink and the Pepa Esperanza Llinares municipal centre needs enlarging, Cs said. Ruben Martinez, spokesman for the PSOE socialists revealed that the party was still studying the draft Budget but would soon be announcing these.
Martinez nevertheless said that personnel costs would increase by €3 million next year, accounting for almost 40% of the municipality’s outlay. In contrast, he lamented, spending directly benefitting residents would descend this year by more than €8 million.