Mallorca autonomous funding call seeks island safeguards
PALMA, MALLORCA, 18 August — Coalició per Mallorca has called on Spain’s central government to revise its proposed autonomous funding system to reflect the specific pressures faced by the Balearic Islands. The group says Mallorca’s island status, rapid population growth and large non-resident population must carry greater weight in the model.
Its general coordinator, Joan Serra, said providing public services on an island brings additional costs and argued that Mallorca should not contribute more while receiving less in return.
Island costs and population pressures
Coalició per Mallorca cited an assessment by the Foundation for Applied Economic Studies, Fedea, which it says found that the proposed scheme gives less importance to island status. According to the group, the plan also lacks tailored measures for areas experiencing sharp population growth.
The coalition says funding should be based on the population actually using services, rather than only people listed on the municipal register. It says millions of additional people use Mallorca’s roads, transport, emergency provision, infrastructure and other public services each year.
Services and political negotiations
The group wants the revised system to account for the added expense of island location, temporary visitors, demographic growth and the true cost of essential healthcare and education.
Coalició per Mallorca also said the islands’ interests should not be eclipsed by negotiations between Spain’s major state-wide parties. Serra said Mallorca has long acted as an economic driver for the country but should not be left to absorb all the associated costs.
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Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com