Olhão’s mayor, António Pina, has announced a record-breaking amount that can be spent on local projects suggested by those resident in the municipality.
The €400,000 'Participatory Budget' will be distributed among the area’s parishes in a municipal give-away that has been made possible, according to the mayor, due to the council’s accounts being in good order.
Olhão joins other of the Algarve’s councils which have asked for good ideas - and with a large sum which will surprise many locals wanting to see attention paid to the city and rural poor where cuts have been made to make the council books balance.
Pina, basking in the success of this year's Seafood Festival, says that if the idea is a success then he will look at sending a greater amount in subsequent years, as his re-election approaches.
Suggestions from the public can not be for projects already on the council's tourist development agenda which includes a new hotel on land in the public maritime zone, expanding the existing marina to block the pleasant view from the twin markets and the building of Pina's Erection, a towering 'mirante,' or viewing tower in the old fishermens quarter of the city.
