Fuerteventura Island Council prepares 2027 budget and moves ahead with bus service tender

Nuria Cabrera, Fuerteventura Island Council’s Finance, Economic Development and Human Resources councillor, puts the expected growth in the island budget for 2027 at between 2% and 2.5%. She also says the Ministry’s one-month deadline to report on the new tender for the regular transport service is about to expire. If there is no response, the Island Council will proceed with the tender for a service that, Cabrera explained, has been operating for around 50 years and “is being put out to tender properly for the first time”.

The island’s accounts are entering the final stretch of the financial year with more than €30 million added through various carry-over appropriations. Execution stands at “almost 78%” of the initial 2026 budget appropriations, according to the island’s finance lead, who disclosed the figure in an interview with La Voz de Fuerteventura.

Some of these funds have gone towards maintaining free transport, strengthening aid for the primary sector, supplementing funding for the third sector, and financing projects in culture, historical heritage and housing renovation.

Cabrera said the current aim is to increase the share of the budget allocated to capital investment. “The most important thing, and what concerns us too, is to increase Chapter 6 investment, the public works that people can see,” she said.

She cited road maintenance and upkeep, along with social and healthcare infrastructure, as priorities. These are among the main strands of the current term, alongside water-related projects.

The 2027 budget is expected to grow by between 2% and 2.5%

Fuerteventura Island Council has begun drawing up its 2027 budget. The Finance department is initially working on the basis of an increase of between 2% and 2.5%, although Cabrera warned that the income expected from the Canary Islands Government has not yet been finalised, nor have the adjustments that will follow the “negotiations” with councillors, who are always keen to see their own budgets increased.

Departments have until 15 October to submit proposals for activities, investment and works for the coming financial year. After that, in Cabrera’s words, the “back and forth” with departments and the various portfolios will begin, as the budget is finalised before being reviewed by the internal audit department.

The Island Council intends to take the budget to a plenary session before the end of the year.

Water and social and healthcare infrastructure will continue to account for a significant share of investment. Transport will also feature, with the tender process seen by the Island Council as vital to renewing and expanding the public bus service.

Deadline approaching: Island Council will tender bus service if Ministry does not respond

Nuria Cabrera says the documents for the new regular transport concession have been sent to the Ministry for the required report. “The Ministry has one month to respond or request further information, but if it doesn’t respond within a month, the Island Council will decide to put it out to tender,” Cabrera explained.

The concession will run for ten years and has a total value of more than €50 million, according to Cabrera. The Island Council’s budget forecasts already set aside around €6.4 million a year to cover the contract.

The island’s finance lead highlighted the complexity of the process, which has involved public consultation, objections, appeals and changes to the service.

“This is the first time the service is being put out to tender properly,” Cabrera stressed, recalling that regular transport has been operating in Fuerteventura for around 50 years.

Almost €9 million to launch the Gran Tarajal care home

The opening of the new social and healthcare facilities will also have a direct impact on the 2027 budget.

Cabrera puts the expected cost of running the Gran Tarajal care home at close to €9 million. The aim is to move the service tender forward in parallel with the completion and handover of the facility.

“When you inaugurate it, when you open it, you need to have all the conditions in place to provide the service,” she explained.

The tender documents for the management contract are being prepared, and the Finance department expects to allocate the necessary funds in the new budget. The future management of the Costa Calma Day Centre will also add to spending in the coming financial years.

Municipal investment: progress on PICOS

Planning for 2027 includes projects linked to the Island Plan for Municipal Cooperation (PICOS).

These include the Antigua Sports Complex, with investment of close to €9 million spread over several financial years, and the Puerto del Rosario Sports Complex, for which Cabrera indicated funding of around €7 million. The tender, she noted, is the responsibility of the Town Council.

The Island Council is also providing funding for projects in Puerto del Rosario’s industrial area and contributing to the planned car park in Pájara.

In Betancuria, projects including an extension to the cemetery and a new Town Hall are also pending, following problems during their implementation.

Cabrera stressed that any new investment should be included only if it is genuinely viable. “We need to have plans in place and know what we’re going to deliver, rather than put something in a budget and then be unable to carry it out,” she concluded.