Palma raises the budget to 670 million euros, 6.9% more

PalmaThe Palma City Council will have the highest budget in its history in 2027, with 670,072,500 euros, 43 million more than this year, which represents an increase of 6.9%. The Mayor of Palma, Jaime Martínez, presented these accounts this Wednesday, which, as he defended, provide continuity to the government team's city project and focus on maintenance, cleaning, security, housing, and the improvement of public services. "These are budgets designed to respond to the needs of day-to-day life," he stated.

One of the areas that concentrates the most resources is infrastructure, which will have more than 134 million euros at its disposal, 12% more than in 2026. Within this item, 21 million will be allocated to road maintenance, 53% more, while the city and neighborhoods' Renove plan will have six million additional euros to renew sidewalks, streets, and lighting. Specifically, the public lighting budget will increase by 44%. In addition, Cort will invest four million to improve energy efficiency through LED technology. According to Martínez, only 27% of the lighting in Palma still does not have this technology.

The mayor has also announced a shading plan endowed with 600,000 euros to incorporate more trees and install pergolas in spaces where possible, as has already been done in the Plaça dels Patins. In addition, 800,000 euros will be allocated to the maintenance of the Son Quint estate and the item for the maintenance and rehabilitation of municipal facilities will be increased by 40%. Among the planned actions is the rehabilitation of the Escorxador, which will be executed over the next two years.

In the educational field, the budget to reform and rehabilitate Palma's educational centers will increase by 9%. Among the announced investments are three million euros to air-condition centers and another item of two million euros linked to IBISEC. One million euros will also be allocated to improve the municipal nursery school network and plans are in place to promote the comprehensive rehabilitation of the Ciutat Antiga and Santa Catalina nursery schools, recently acquired from the Bishopric.

46 limited-price homes

Housing is another of the areas that appear among the announced investments. Cort will allocate four million euros to the construction of 46 limited-price homes, a development that remained vacant in the previously called tender. In addition, Martínez has announced that 800 limited-price rental homes will soon be released, although he did not specify the calendar or conditions of these developments in his appearance. 3.7 million euros are also planned for the rehabilitation of historical heritage housing and 850,000 euros to intervene in residential buildings with the aim of eliminating architectural barriers.

Regarding the old prison, the City Council will allocate 700,000 euros to continue its transformation, which includes the demolition of the annex buildings and the development of the project for 139 homes intended for professionals. In terms of urban transformation, Cort will invest two million euros in the El Terreno neighborhood to improve the streets and plans a budget of 900,000 euros linked to a parking lot in Establiments and a green area. It will also put the Tirador project out to tender and launch the ideas competition for the Sitjar, which, according to the mayor, will have a winning project within a couple of months. Furthermore, the parking lot in Plaça de Barcelona and the expansion of the Falca Verda are planned. Among the other announced projects are the Music Park and the botanical garden, for which the project will be drawn up and tendered next year. The City Council has also made a formal offer to acquire the Iris cinema and is pending analysis of its viability. In addition, it will allocate 2.6 million euros for expropriations and 650,000 euros to demolish the building at 43 Joan Miró street, in order to connect Joan Miró avenue with the Plaça de la Mediterrània.

4.5 million euros for the security district

Public safety is also gaining weight in the municipal accounts. The City Council will create 50 new Local Police positions and allocate 4.5 million euros to advance the construction of the future Nou Llevant security district, which is set to replace the Sant Ferran barracks, currently located in a residential area that, according to Martínez, is not suitable for this facility. Investments in uniforms, weaponry, and personal cameras (bodycams) for agents are also planned. Regarding the Fire Department, new positions will be created and 1.2 million euros will be allocated to acquire new vehicles, in addition to improving the facilities at the La Teulera and Son Malferit stations.

Mobility is another area with significant investments. The EMT will have a budget of 102 million euros and the main project will be the development of the ecoEMT in Son Rossinyol, with an investment of 33 million to electrify the fleet and expand the operational capacity of the facilities. The municipal goal is to have all buses electric within a period of three to four years. Currently, Palma already has 68 electric buses and expects to reach 113 in the short term. As for Bicipalma, the fourth phase of service expansion will be executed, which will allow for exceeding 130 stations and 1,000 bicycles, half of which are already electric. The ORA will also be expanded, and the Municipal Parking and Projects Society (SMAP) will have up to 16 million euros to develop parking projects, including those in Plaça de les Meravelles, Plaça de la Mediterrània, and El Terreno.

Social services will have more than 21 million euros available to maintain care programs for vulnerable individuals and families. A shared housing program for those over 65 will also be promoted. Among the planned actions are 400,000 euros to renovate the Sant Jordi day center and an equivalent amount to create the one in Joan Miró. The Equality area will increase its budget by 11%. Among the announced measures is a 20% increase in resources allocated to support contracts for victims of sexist violence and the provision for a future emergency center in Coll d'en Rabassa, in the space currently occupied by the Espiral entity. Furthermore, one million euros will be allocated to renovate youth facilities.

In culture, the City Council plans to reinforce the exhibition spaces, the Xesc Forteza and the Mar i Terra, in addition to tendering the recovery of the Catalina Valls theater. It will also allocate 250,000 euros to acquire instruments for the municipal band and will maintain support for festivals such as the Atlàntida. In sports, there will be 2.7 million euros to modernize facilities, among which are the Germans Escalas sports center and the Son Moix athletics track. Furthermore, the beach lifeguard service will have 2.3 million euros to reform and resize the service.

Pending the votes from Vox

During the presentation, the mayor defended the government team's economic management and assured that the accounts have been prepared with criteria of responsibility and debt control. According to the data he presented, the live debt has gone from 175 million euros in 2024 to 163 million in 2025, while the closing forecast for this year is 167 million. The live debt ratio has fallen from 38% to 31%. Martínez also defended the reduction of the tax burden on citizens and pointed out that the capital gains tax has been reduced to 18%, compared to the 25% that, as he indicated, was recorded in 2023. In addition, he recalled the 50% reduction in the tax on construction. Regarding political negotiation, and when asked if the accounts have the support of Vox, the mayor assured that a hand is extended to all municipal groups and that contributions that may improve the accounts will be welcomed. "It is a budget that will be approved," he affirmed. Martínez defended that the accounts are for continuity and that they maintain the commitment to transform the city, reinforce public services, and improve the cleaning and maintenance of the neighborhoods.