The new municipal budget increases spending by 11.38%, strengthens public services, and introduces new social aid programmes without raising taxes.
The Torrevieja City Council has approved its municipal budget for 2026, setting total expenditure at €187,732,919.75 — an 11.38% rise from the previous year. The plan prioritises bolstering public services, accelerating infrastructure investment and expanding social programmes, while explicitly ruling out any increase in local taxes or fees.
Mayor Eduardo Dolón and Economy and Finance Councillor Domingo Paredes presented the balanced plan, stressing fiscal responsibility and continuity in the city’s urban and social transformation. “This is a realistic and responsible budget designed to continue Torrevieja’s development while maintaining economic stability and without increasing taxes,” Dolón said.
Personnel costs account for €45.5 million, or 24.24% of the budget, reflecting a 3.35% rise tied to statutory pay updates and career progression allowances. Recurring operating expenditure totals €83.78 million — up 5.97% — driven largely by increased waste management costs and the funding of major municipal contracts covering waste collection, street cleaning, public transport, parks and cultural services. A new allocation of €7 million supports the rollout of a revamped urban public transport service.
Investment spending jumps to €46.19 million, a 44.03% increase over 2025, financed through asset disposals, European funds and credit lines. Key projects include completion of ongoing construction works, mobility and accessibility improvements, urban regeneration schemes and green-space upgrades. The budget earmarks €2.26 million for park and garden refurbishments — including €500,000 for the new Alto de la Casilla park — alongside investment in an Alzheimer’s Centre, pedestrian routes and upgraded street lighting and public safety equipment.
Environmental initiatives receive a notable boost, with more than €9.6 million combined in current and capital spending, including €363,203.41 in EU-financed renaturalisation projects to enhance urban green corridors.
Social policy is central to the plan: new measures include €50,000 for rehabilitation programmes for children with cancer, €30,000 for rehabilitation and activity programmes for people with neurodegenerative illnesses, and €200,000 to support youth emancipation and access to rental housing. Transfer allocations also rise to €10.88 million, benefiting NGOs, pensioner support, family conciliation and targeted economic assistance schemes.
To promote affordable housing and revitalise the urban core, the council expects €17.8 million from the sale of municipal plots designated for public housing and plans to establish a municipally owned public housing company to manage new rental and sale initiatives.
Councillor Paredes said the budget “guarantees the quality of public services, strengthens social policies and preserves a moderate fiscal stance,” while Mayor Dolón added it underlines the city’s economic solidity and enables continued progress toward a greener, more accessible Torrevieja with broader opportunities for residents.
