€10m hit: Menorca councils face island allowance bill

Menorca’s councils and the Island Council could face an extra cost of around €10 million after the island allowance for public-sector workers was increased. On 9 September, the Menorca branch of the PP said it would file motions in every town hall and at the Island Council, demanding funding from the central government. The party backs the higher payment but says local administrations should not have to meet the bill alone.

The island allowance, known in Spanish as the complemento de insularidad, has been raised for public employees. PP president Cristóbal Marqués said the new rules affect not only central government staff but also workers employed by local administrations.

Marqués said councils and the Island Council risk having to cut other parts of their budgets if no extra money is provided. The PP wants the central government to increase payments to Balearic town halls and island councils through the state-revenue allocation scheme.

It says any compensation should reflect the different circumstances on each island, particularly the higher costs of island life on Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera. The motions also call for a permanent system so future increases to the allowance come with funding for the local administrations that must pay for them.

Marqués said the party was not seeking to reverse the allowance or worsen conditions for public workers. He said councils need enough resources to keep providing services, invest and meet people’s needs.

Topics: Politics

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com