The mayor of Palma, José Hila, announced in his speech on the state of the city that the City Council will freeze taxes. With the exception of the IBI for large property owners, those with 10 or more empty homes, whose tax will rise by 50%. In terms of housing, the mayor announced that there will be a 50% rebate on IBI for subsidised housing for 10 years (now 6) and that the rebate for sustainable facilities will be extended to 6 years. The measures would come into effect from 1 January 2023.

In terms of mobility, Hila took advantage of the debate on the state of the city to announce that children under the age of 18 will be able to use the EMT transport network free of charge. A measure that, according to the mayor, places Palma as the city that permanently offers free public transport until the age of majority. Similarly, he will extend the current 50% reduction in ticket prices beyond the end of the year. A new urban bus line will also be created to run along the Eixample, from the Palacio de Congresos to Plaza Progreso.

Major transformative projects

Hila took advantage of his speech to recall the major investments made by the City Council and those yet to come. “The transformation of Palma is underway. In the last four years we have achieved the greatest investment in the city that has ever been made, and we have done it with dialogue and coordination with the Govern”, said the mayor, who boasted about the “management to resolve historic problems and transform Palma”. In addition to the forthcoming reform of the Paseo Marítimo, he alluded to the new water treatment plant in Palma, which will be awarded at the end of this month; a new neighbourhood for young people in Son Busquets, where he intends to build 830 affordable rental homes from the public sector; the future tram to the airport and the work on Es Baluard del Príncep, which recovers the walls in the area.