The Independent Authority for Fiscal Responsibility (AIReF) created by Brussels in Spain to monitor political spending has put a red light on the fiscal sustainability and compliance with the fiscal rules of San Bartolomé de Tirajana due to the data handled by the General Intervention, which has charged a budget deficit of 2023 million euros to the 42 financial year. As of March 2024, the San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council pays its suppliers their invoices within 161 days and has 7 million euros outstanding. The Las Palmas City Council has 50.000 euros outstanding since last Friday.
In December 2023, the San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council said in an official note that "the budget is balanced, with no initial deficit." All that is smoke: the INF balance is at -41,3 million euros. The evolution of the balance on non-financial income is at -39,3%. There are non-financial incomes of 105 million euros for a non-financial expense of 147,1 million euros according to AIReF.
In December 2023, the City Council issued a reckless statement claiming to have "income slightly higher than total expenses, thanks to a prudent (literal) approach to revenue estimation based on data from previous years." Personnel expenses increased by 2,5% compared to the previous year due to statutory salary increases and price revisions in public service contracts, such as cleaning and waste collection.
The budget of the San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council for 2024 amounts to 98,5 million euros. Of these, the municipality's own income is expected to reach 92 million, while contributions from other administrations will total around 6,2 million euros. Regarding the spending rule, AIReF is evaluating the growth limit of public spending for 2025 because in 2024 it will allocate 37,3 million to salaries and almost 49,2 million to goods and services. In addition, 7,9 million euros have been planned for investments in public infrastructure, urban renewal and improvement of public spaces, such as playgrounds and educational centres.
