Budgets

Please let me try to explain how I understand this works.
Like any Council or Government, we have to supply certain services to the population. We have to pay for these services, however certain things have to be capped because of the austerity measures.
Services such as Water, Sewerage, Lighting, Education, Sports, Social Services, Police and Emergency services, Rubbish Collection, Healthy Services,Transport, Youth, Tourism, Fiesta, employment, Council wages and more.
There are two side to the Balance Sheet: Money coming in from Taxes, Suma, works licences etc. and the outgoings are for such as the services listed above.
The Money that comes into the coffers is about half of that which is required, therefore the Grants and other payments come from Alicante, Valencia and Central Government to make up the shortfall.
If the individual budgets are not used by these departments, then when it comes to the next budget, we either get a reduced amount or it is cut completely, resulting in cuts in that particular service. How that budget is used, is dependent on the Councillor for that department.
What I dont understand is that when we have a Plenary meeting, there is always time set aside for questions. If the question of the cost of Rock Arena was so important, this was the time to put the question to the Councillor for Youth and Tourism. As no questions were asked by any of the Councillors, we have to assume they had no problems with the proposal for the Rock Arena Concert.

Setting the record straight

First, re the Rock Arena, I attended this event as did SEVEN of the NINE ruling Councillors .
It was not my taste in music, but then again I am not a great fan of country music either. I stayed for around 2 hours and had to leave for a quieter and more musical venue.
Second, the Rock Band that are playing this evening is absolutely nothing to do with our office being 1 year old. This is a private venture, put on by Dos Mas....They obviously see something in Heavy Metal Rock.They did have the concession for the Rock Arena Festival bar and they asked the Town Hall for permission to put on a mini rock concert, between 10pm and midnight and that's just about where our involvement ends.
I can assure the general public that the type of entertainment we have planned for the main Fiesta next month, is far more in keeping with what the public want. Again as far as money being spent on the Rock Arena last Saturday, this came from the budget for youth and tourism. Whether or not this was the best way of spending the money, only time will tell. It must be pointed out that that if the money is not spent on youth or tourism, we would lose part of the grant from Central government. If it was not for these grants, we would have virtually no services. The SUMA only covers about half of the requirements needed to ensure that the services provided are maintained.
For the person who is obviously jealous of the fact that I and one other councillor changed our cars, it is no business of his, but our previous vehicles no longer fitted our needs. For me a seven year warranty from Kia swung the deal. This same person seems to think that I only appear at a council meeting once a week and pick up a fat cheque, they are mistaken, for as many people know, I am in the office every day from 09.00 until 15.00, dealing with all types of enquiries. I receive requests for assistance at home and some even call at my door. Between that and other council duties I put in, between fifty and sixty hours a week. After taxes and deductions I receive the princely sum of €540 a week, (€2200 per month). I can show my bank statements to whoever does not believe me. Yes better than some,but certainly not the €3900 as was quoted by another individual, who apparently was earning quite a bit more, when he was councillor.