PP responds to socialist opposition criticism of new municipal budget

The approval of the municipal budget for 2025 earlier this week was met with criticism from the PSOE socialist opposition which voted against rubber-stamping the 46.9 million euro funding, claiming in a statement that it “raises taxes, increases fines, cuts investment, and abandons citizens“.

The Partido Popular, led by mayor Rosa Cardona, has itself responded in a long counter-statement in which it “deeply regrets the criticism levelled by the [socialists] in an attempt to misinform and manipulate citizens“, accusing the opposition led by former mayor José Chulvi of “seeking to divert attention from an obvious reality: during the 12 years of socialist government, Xàbia suffered serious administrative paralysis and inefficient management“.

The PP statement adds that: “It is paradoxical that the PSOE criticises the approval of realistic budgets adapted to the needs of the residents when in the last ten years they have only managed to approve three budgets, leaving the municipality in a situation of stagnation and working with extended accounts. This lack of planning seriously harmed the development of Xàbia, slowing down projects and limiting investments. And this is not a criticism, it is a reality that any resident has been able to verify“.

It then claims that: “In contrast, the current government team has approved in just over a year budgets that contemplate priority investments, optimise available resources and guarantee better management. It is false that there are no new investments. These are planned and will be carried out through the budgets, the surplus and subsidies, always thinking of the benefit of the residents“.

“This budget is mainly focused on public safety, cleaning and maintenance, but above all it is a priority to strengthen the municipal administration that has been neglected for too many years without carrying out the replacement of retired or de-registered employees, which has led to administrative management being diminished to such an extent that investments have been absent. And this government has proposed to organize, strengthen and address all the internal needs of the administration so that Xàbia can reap the benefits, have investments and have an efficient town hall like any other municipality. These budgets are the basis and the foundations for having the municipal services and works that the residents expect.“

The statement also claims that the PSOE is lying about the new municipal budget placing more tax pressure on residents. “Although the rubbish collection rate has been updated in accordance with state regulations, the government team has reduced the IBI by a greater percentage, achieving a balance that benefits residents. In fact, the average resident will see a reduction in their tax burden next year. In addition, the increase in the rubbish rate mainly affects tourist accommodation, protecting the interests of regular residents“.

It adds that: “The height of demagogy is that the PSOE, whose government in Madrid imposes the increase in the rubbish rate through a law that requires the cost of the service to be equal to the rates, is the same party that, as the government of Xàbia, put out to tender the waste collection service, increasing its cost by more than 1,200,000 euros, a service that was previously provided by another company. Now, this same party intends to blame the new government for the tax pressure, when it is they who, with their decisions, have generated the situation that they now criticise“.

The lengthy statement continues: “Another of the PSOE’s unfounded criticisms is the alleged ‘turbo urbanism’. The reality is that no regulations have been modified nor has uncontrolled expansion been encouraged. What has been achieved is to speed up urban planning procedures thanks to better administrative management, allowing the rights of residents to be realized more quickly and efficiently. This change reflects a town council that, after years of inaction, finally works“.

And it goes on: “The PSOE also manipulates [the truth] when talking about the budget allocated to institutional advertising, stating that it has grown by 250%. They lie and manipulate again. During their mandate, they resorted to objections and other methods to cover these expenses, without reflecting the reality in their budgets. What’s more, the media contract they approved already doubled the amount they had in the budget. Now, the budget is adjusted to the needs of a municipality like Xàbia, guaranteeing the right of citizens to be informed about the activities, projects and events that affect their daily lives“.

“Greater transparency and greater efficiency when it comes to residents being informed. Information is essential in citizen participation. A town hall like Calpe, the municipality closest to Xàbia in population, with a PSOE government, had a budget of €234,000 in 2024, more than double what Xàbia budgeted. Furthermore, with this allocation, mayor Rosa Cardona has set herself a goal: to change the image of bottle-party tourism that Xàbia has had in recent years“.

With regards to criticisms about the lack of resources for the Department of Social Services, the statement responds that: “The PSOE is once again lying. As the delegate for the area, Raquel Violero, explained clearly and emphatically in the plenary session, the services are more than guaranteed. The department is organised and prepared to offer efficient management, with a team of highly qualified professionals who respond to the needs of citizens. The accusations of the PSOE are unfounded, since the commitment of the new government of Xàbia to social services remains firm and constant. Another manipulation in such a sensitive and important issue“.

The statement concludes: “In just one year, this [PP-led] government team has reactivated projects that the PSOE left stagnant and has launched new initiatives that are already benefiting the municipality. Faced with the paralysis of 12 years of poor socialist management, the current government is showing that Xàbia can advance and prosper“. “

“During their mandate, [the PSOE] claimed that they would do everything and that everything was their responsibility, but the reality is that it is the new government of Xàbia who are promoting and carrying out the projects. They lived in a paralyzed administration, where progress was stagnant and projects half-done. There was more interest in focusing on a future in Valencia, while local management remained forgotten. Now, seeing that the new team led by Rosa Cardona is executing and advancing projects such as the foot pedals for the waste containers, the Parque Reina Sofía in Thiviers, the Riurau de Arnauda, ​​the sewer network and the renovation of the Primer Montañar, among others, some are trying to appropriate the investments and achievements made“.

“In short, the attempt to discredit and undermine the budgets of the new government team reflects once again that the socialists of Xàbia still do not know why the voters left it in the last elections. It is surprising that a party that only approved two budgets in eight years has the courage to criticize the return of administrative normality and the budgets made in the town hall. Mayor Rosa Cardona is satisfied with a budget that, year after year, will improve municipal management, and these first budgets are the starting point to return Xàbia to the place it should always have occupied: that of a modern town, organized and prepared for the future“.

“We reaffirm the commitment to transparency, efficient management and the well-being of the residents and invite the PSOE to abandon destructive criticism and join the common effort to build a better Xàbia for all“.