Court Blocks Sharp Pay Increase in La Bañeza
A controversy has erupted in La Bañeza, a small town in the province of León, over an attempt by local authorities to significantly raise their own salaries. The city council, dominated by a coalition of the Partido Popular (PP) and Vox, approved a 31% salary increase for the mayor and councilors. However, the judiciary intervened and suspended the implementation of this decision.
The High Court of Justice of Castilla y León (TSJ) rejected the municipality’s appeal, leaving in place the temporary injunction imposed back in May. The judges emphasized that the salary hike had retroactive effect, which they argued put the personal interests of officials ahead of the public good.
Dispute Details: Who Wanted to Earn What?
According to the blocked decision, Mayor Javier Carrera was set to receive €46,464 per year instead of the previous €39,320, an increase of nearly 18%. Full-time councilors expected €38,222 rather than €27,000—a rise of more than 41%. Additionally, the number of paid positions was set to rise from five to six. Overall, according to the opposition, total salary expenditures would have gone up by 31%.
All opposition factions, except for one deputy from Ciudadanos, opposed the measure. They filed a collective lawsuit, arguing that such a sharp increase was unjustified and detrimental to the city budget. The court sided with them, noting that the attempt to issue back payments appeared to be an effort to circumvent a previous unfavorable ruling from another court.
Arguments of the parties and response to the court decision
The municipality claimed that without the new payments, the mayor and councilors would not be able to receive compensation for their work, allegedly risking a paralysis of the administration. However, the court found no evidence that the absence of salaries had already caused any disruptions in the operation of city institutions. Moreover, the judges pointed out that it was the actions of the city hall itself that led to the situation where these payments were called into question.
The opposition welcomed the court’s decision, calling it a victory for oversight and transparency. In their view, the judicial system prevented officials from disguising private interests as concern for the public good. Meanwhile, neither the mayor nor the councilors are currently receiving official payments, but the opposition is confident that a fair compensation amount can be determined at the next council meeting.
Consequences and future developments
The court ruling is not a final verdict on the merits of the dispute, but it maintains the ban on salary increases until the proceedings are concluded. The judges emphasized that paying the increased amounts with possible subsequent reimbursement could cause significant damage to the city budget, especially given the retroactive nature of the decision.
The authorities of La Bañeza have not yet proposed any mechanisms to guarantee the return of funds in the event that the salary increase is ultimately overturned. The court found that the risks to the municipal treasury outweigh the arguments for immediate pay raises. Another round of discussions is expected soon, and a review of employment terms for city employees may follow.
