This investment program, which will distribute nearly nine million euros across the entire province, reinforces its focus this year on smaller municipalities, especially those with fewer than 500 inhabitants, and those at risk of depopulation. This was highlighted by the regional deputy, Carlos Pastor.
“"The +Cerca Plan will allow the town councils of the Montaña to have funds to cover expenses such as the conditioning, improvement, or maintenance of parks and gardens, sports facilities, municipal swimming pools, or medical clinics."
Pastor emphasized the freedom and autonomy that the +Cerca Plan grants to municipalities to decide the allocation of funds according to their needs and priorities. Among the criteria for distributing aid, a fixed amount of 33,000 euros has been established this year, supplemented by other amounts based on population.
For the first time, a distribution for municipalities with fewer than 500 inhabitants is included, receiving 175 euros per inhabitant. Those between 500 and 1,000 inhabitants receive 125 euros/hab., and those between one thousand and less than 5,000 inhabitants, 11 euros/hab. Additionally, municipalities that have lost more than 7% of their population in the last ten years receive an extra 10 euros per inhabitant.
Thus, for example, municipalities in the Montaña such as Tollos, Famorca, or Benimassot, which have the smallest populations in this region, will receive 1,216.3 euros, 935 euros, and 573.2 euros per inhabitant respectively, thanks to the +Cerca Plan. Pastor has also urged the Spanish Government to deactivate fiscal rules to allow town councils and the Provincial Council itself to use their surpluses to strengthen the +Cerca Plan and promote other extraordinary investments.
