The City Council plenary approves the budget for 2026, which maintains the largest tax cut in the history of Estepona.

The green light has been given to the final approval of the municipal accounts that reach 132 million euros, with 6.6 million euros to reduce the Real Estate Tax (IBI) and more than 27 million euros for productive investments. It is the first budget where it is not necessary to face the more than 300 million euros of inherited debt, once the ‘zero debt’ has been reached.

The Plenary of the Estepona City Council today gave the green light to the final approval of the municipal budget for 2026, which reaches 132 million euros and maintains the largest tax cut in the history of the city, which has already been practiced in the current year. The municipal accounts register a historical maximum of investments, with 27 million, and an important social character.

The mayor of Estepona, José María García Urbano, has stressed that it is “a historic budget, where -for the first time- we no longer have to deal with more than 300 million euros of inherited debt, and that allows us to better face the future of the city”.

The budget contains an item of more than 6.6 million euros to, once again, apply the largest reduction of the Real Estate Tax (IBI) made in the city. This is one of the most important social actions that are carried out from an Administration, since it allows a great economic injection in the pocket of the citizens, with all the benefits that this entails. During this year 2025 the Consistory has applied an average reduction of 20% to about 38,000 receipts of the Real Estate Tax of registered households.

With regard to social investment, the government team continues to pay special attention to social needs and to collaboration with groups and charities. In this way, resources amounting to 10 million Euros are dedicated to programs, aids and initiatives aimed at supporting citizens in vulnerable situations. Among other measures, the allocation for dependency aid is increased, with an allocation of almost 5 million Euros, to attend to a record number of more than 800 users.

The municipal budget maintains in all its magnitudes the criteria of prudence, credibility, responsibility and complies with the applicable regulations. In relation to the great investment effort of the accounts for 2026, it should be noted that it is planned to carry out actions for an amount of more than 27 million euros.

In this way, the budget includes funds to continue the work that will extend the great pedestrian boulevard generated next to the Mediterranean to merge it with the remodeled urban center; for the completion of the parking at a cost of 1 euro/day for the citizen in the surroundings of the church of El Carmen; to complete the union of the entire coastal corridor; for the creation of a river path in the Guadalmina river or for the execution of new sports facilities, such as the construction of a velodrome and facilities for soccer and rugby in the northern area of the city.

Likewise, the reinforcement of the maintenance and care services of the whole municipality is contemplated, with special attention to the suburban areas, a plan for the improvement of public lighting, a new asphalting plan and a plan for the remodeling of playgrounds and green areas, among other actions.

In the investment section, the budget also includes the improvement of public facilities, the reform of the Fair and Sports Park and the conservation and acquisition of materials for beaches and gardens, as well as the maintenance of educational centers and nursery schools, with an important action for the air conditioning of centers that do not yet have this equipment in their classrooms.

On the other hand, public safety is reinforced with the integral reform of the Local Police Headquarters and the gymnasium; as well as with the provision of vehicles for police officers and members of Civil Protection and the installation of security cameras in the city.

In relation to personnel expenses, it is also foreseen the allocation of funds to continue making new public calls for employment. In the cultural field, the municipal budget continues to allocate important items. Specifically, for the equipment and funding of the Mirador del Carmen Cultural Center, since it is one of the most decisive bets for modernization, social transformation and cultural positioning of the city.

Approval of the RPT and appointment of Quiñones as Adopted Son

The plenary session of the Estepona City Council today unanimously approved the Job Relationship (RPT) of the municipal labor staff. This document, which was previously agreed with the various trade union sections in the General Negotiating Committee, collects and organizes all positions of the Consistory labor staff.

On the other hand, the Plenary has approved the appointment as Adopted Son of Estepona of the artist Juan Manuel Quiñones, a sculptor of great international recognition resident “for his contribution to art, his professional career and his constant link with this land”. The artist has an interesting exhibition of works at the Mirador del Carmen Cultural Center that can be visited until December 14.

The City Council has also approved the Declaration of special interest of the reform works of the premises destined to Casa Hermandad in favor of the Hermandad Nuestra Señora del Carmen of Estepona, with which they will obtain a 95% reduction in the Tax on Constructions, Installations and Works (ICIO). It has also been formalized the transfer to the Local Assembly of the Spanish Red Cross of a municipal premises located in the area of Mar y Sierra as the headquarters of the local Assembly in Estepona.