To reach the figure of 590.000 euros, the amount necessary to formally receive the work, a credit modification had to be made and the items allocated to festivals, culture, sports, equipment for the residence itself or infrastructure had to be reduced.
On the other hand, the budget modification that will allow the payment for the construction of the "Magda Godia" Senior Citizens' Residence and Day Center building in Mequinenza has been unanimously approved.
The Mequinenza Town Council unanimously approved a budget amendment of €590.000 in an extraordinary plenary session. This amendment will allow the council to make the final payment to the company responsible for constructing the Magda Godia Senior Citizens' Residence and Day Center in Mequinenza. This necessary amendment is the prerequisite for the formal handover of the building, which brings the total cost of construction to €6,7 million, €5,9 million of which is financed through the MINER Plan. To reach this final figure, budget allocations initially earmarked for festivals, cultural activities, sporting events, equipment for the residence itself, and improvements to municipal infrastructure have been reduced, according to the Mequinenza council.
The information provided by the town hall indicates that to this amount must be added the initial 700.000 euros for drafting the project, land development and building structure, 670.000 euros for furniture requested from the Bajo Cinca region and a little over 800.000 for adapting the surroundings, main access road and garden for users, which raises the overall cost of the infrastructure to about 9 million euros, of which 40% of the committed aid has been received, with the Mequinenza Town Hall having to finance the rest with its own funds through surpluses and credit operations.
In her address, Montse Gimeno, Councilor for Citizenship and Social Services, explained the modification and detailed the next steps for the opening of the Magda Godia Senior Citizens' Residence and Day Center. She announced that 50% of the available residential places will be offered initially as a measure to contain the City Council's expenses until the anticipated funding is received, including that from the Bajo Cinca region. She added that work is already underway on the tender documents for the facility's equipment and management. She stated that "this cannot be stopped now" and emphasized the needs of the residents, saying, "We care about our people, and we will do everything possible to ensure they receive the best care in the best conditions and that it is affordable for everyone."
The Mequinenza City Council remains in conflict with the Bajo/Baix Cinca region over the issue of the nursing home.
According to the press release issued by the Mequinenza Town Hall, Manuel Molina, spokesperson for Tú Aragón, announced his support for the amendment, “which we believe is very important to be able to complete the construction of the nursing home.” For her part, Débora Bravo, former vice president of the Bajo Cinca region and first deputy mayor, reiterated her demand for the release of the €2 million allocated by the regional body in the 2023 budget for nursing homes to finance the €670.000 needed to equip the facility. She also criticized the vote in favor of the 2024 regional budget by the spokesperson for the People's Party (PP) and regional councilor, José María Algueró, “which doesn't allocate a single cent to the Mequinenza nursing home, but does allocate money to the one in Fraga.” The PP councilor responded that despite the vote, “I continue working; I am very clear about my intentions, and my conscience is clear.”
Luis Esteve, councilor and also regional councilor for the Socialist Party (PSOE), wanted to clarify some of the issues that the PP-Entre Todos governing coalition in the Bajo Cinca region used to justify not including the requested funds for furnishing the Mequinenza Residence in the 2024 regional budget. “They wanted to create confusion, and what we are asking for are actions, and we see no actions,” he insisted, referring to Algueró. “There was a budget in 2023 and not in 2024; the willingness to address the Mequinenza City Council's request is clear,” he concluded.
Finally, Antonio Sanjuán, the mayor of Mequinenza, wanted to make it clear that the City Council's priority is to open the nursing home as quickly as possible, stating, "Our elderly cannot wait." He was also firm in his response to certain statements made by members of the governing team at the regional council meeting where the 2024 budget was being debated: "We have submitted a formal request for furniture and equipment, charged to the budget allocation for 2023. It's on record, and it hasn't been addressed."
