Por Redaccion 
The board of directors of the Mercia region approved the community budget draft until 2025 during their weekly meeting on Thursday, with a total of 6,725.8 million euros allocated, of which 80% will be used to «strengthen the welfare state» and includes seven new deductions to alleviate the tax burden on families.
This announcement was made by the Minister of Economy, Finance, and Digital Administration, Luis Alberto Marín, during a press conference at the San Esteban Palace, following the weekly board meeting, where he was joined by the Regional Government spokesperson, Marcos Ortuñas.
Marín highlighted that since 2018, the first budget under Fernando López Miras’ presidency, the accounts have increased by 58.29% (2,477 million euros), with a clear goal of «improving citizens’ lives, promoting investments, and fostering growth to build a better region.»
According to the counselor, the 2025 budget allocates 5,408 million euros for the «protection and consolidation» of the welfare state, equivalent to 14.7 million euros per day for social policies in health, education, and social services.
Out of this total amount, 46% of social expenses, amounting to 2,479 million euros, will be allocated to healthcare; 39% of the education policies will receive 2,050 million euros, and around 600 million will be dedicated to social policies, with an additional 281 million for areas such as employment and housing, making up 15% of social expenses.
«We will invest 6.8 million euros per day in healthcare in 2025, 5.6 million in education, and 2.3 million in social policies. A total of 14.7 million euros that reflect the commitment of this regional government and President López Miras to citizens and the quality of public services,» stated Marín.
Additionally, the budget will allocate 1.8 million euros per day to economic stimulus, totaling over 683 million euros, according to Marín.
He emphasized that despite the reduction in European funds from 234 million in 2024 to 1625 million, the budget is managed «rationally and efficiently» to address traditional areas such as promotion.
The project includes seven new tax-related updates in addition to the existing 20, aiming to provide relief for taxpayers in the region. These updates include deductions for expenses related to purchasing prescription glasses and contact lenses for children under 12 and covering 30% of veterinary expenses up to 100 euros.
Marín also mentioned upcoming deductions to promote healthy lifestyles, covering expenses for sports activities and encouraging a healthy lifestyle for families.
These tax deductions aim to provide savings, contrasting with the constant tax burden imposed by the national government, with over 100 tax increases in recent years, according to Marín.
He criticized the central government’s tax policy, which collected over 140,000 million euros but failed to address the ongoing financial challenges in the Murcia region due to a financing system lacking stability, as noted in a report from the Valencian Institute of Economic Studies.
Regarding account deliveries, Marín expressed concerns about outstanding payments, with over 300 million euros due in June. He also highlighted uncertainties regarding the authorization of the FLA mechanism to alleviate financial pressures on unfinished communities like theirs.
Furthermore, he emphasized the financial disparities compared to better-funded autonomous communities, with a gap of over 1,015 euros per inhabitant, totaling more than 1,525 million euros, which demonstrates the need for fairer financial distribution.
Marín mentioned that the budgets have been approved by the Independent Fiscal Responsibility Authority (AIREF), maintaining cautious economic forecasts despite a nearly 14% increase in tax revenue, which had already risen by 19% in the first five months of the year.
He expressed the hope that the region of Murcia would swiftly adopt the budget to continue on the path of stability, economic growth, and job creation in recent years.
The counselor announced that the project would be presented to the Regional Assembly on Thursday to begin the parliamentary process, aiming for the budget to come into effect as soon as possible.
FUENTE