Martínez announces "the biggest budget in Palma's history with more investment, less pressure and less debt than ever before"

PalmThe mayor of Palma, Jaime Martínez, announced on Monday the largest budget in Palma's history, promising "more investment, less pressure, and less debt than ever before." Specifically, the City Council's budget for 2026 will be €623.9 million, an increase of €13 million compared to this year, or 2.25%. At a press conference following the governing board meeting, Martínez, alongside the Vox leader in Palma, Fulgencio Coll, stated that planned investment will total €90 million, €5.5 million more than in 2025, representing a 6.5% increase. According to Martínez, the largest allocation in the new budget is for Infrastructure, Accessibility, and Industrial Parks, with over €130.5 million, followed by Public Safety and Civic Engagement, with €121 million, and Finance, Public Administration, and Internal Affairs. These three areas account for nearly half of the total planned expenditure for the next fiscal year.

Also noteworthy are the €78.3 million allocated to the Environment, Healthy Environments, Markets, and Innovation, and the €62.2 million for Social Services, Education, Citizen Participation, Youth, and Equality. The Mobility and Tourism, Culture, Sports, and Municipal Coordination departments will have €48.3 million and €45.8 million, respectively, while the Mayor's Office will have a budget of €5.6 million. This week, councilors are scheduled to explain the accounts for their respective departments in the relevant committees.

The consolidated budget of the Palma City Council, which includes the accounts of autonomous agencies and municipal corporations, amounts to €956.2 million.

Regarding major projects, the mayor has announced that, following the awarding of the basic design contract for the Plaza Mayor, the construction work will be put out to tender between May and June to meet the commitment that it will begin during the third quarter of 2026.

Former prison

Regarding the GESA building, the design competition will be approved in a few weeks with the aim of awarding the contract for its basic design next year. Martínez also referred to the former prison, where the Urban Planning Department is preparing the intervention project, while a multidisciplinary team works to address its problems from a social and security perspective. "We must confront a problem that the left never paid attention to," he said, referring to the management of past legislatures.

In the area of Public Safety, the budget includes the creation of 50 new Local Police positions and the drafting of the project for the future Nou Llevant station, as well as the approval of the new Local Police plan next year.

50 electric buses

In terms of mobility, the city council plans to add 50 electric buses to the EMT fleet as part of a four-year initiative that includes the acquisition of 113 vehicles for a total of €100 million. The regulated parking system (ORA) will also be expanded, and the fourth phase of BiciPalma (the city's bike-sharing program) will be launched, with 23 new stations and 200 electric bicycles. The personnel budget has increased to €214 million, and negotiations have already begun regarding professional development opportunities. Finally, in the area of housing, €9 million will be allocated over two years for the construction of public housing in Camp Redó and Son Ferragut. Fulgencio Coll expressed his satisfaction that the city's budget is being used to address these requests. "These are balanced accounts that reduce debt, with an investment of almost 90 million euros," said the Vox spokesperson, adding: "They address our requests to improve the quality of life and for Palma to regain the position it once held."