The Mijas Town Hall budget for the 2026 financial year has been definitively approved at 149 million euros, the highest figure in the municipality’s history. As the government team points out, the budget focuses on social spending, infrastructure, investment, and improvements in security and cleanliness. The Executive also notes that it will "freeze taxes and finance the High-Resolution Centre (CARP) project to be built in Las Lagunas".

 

It should be noted that the document underwent an initial vote at the end of December last year. Since then, it has had to overcome eight formal appeals (some of which were summarily dismissed), including one concerning the failure to provide the accounts for Mijas Avanza, and another regarding a report on estimated revenue from building permits and construction taxes (ICIO). However, the most debated point was the disposal of two municipal plots. "There is another appeal referring to the decision to sell two plots that have served no purpose for this Town Hall in the past, nor will they in the future; with that money, we can achieve a great deal", explained the councillor for Finance, Mario Bravo (PP). He added that "these two plots have been valued by a municipal technician and, providing all goes well, will be put out to public tender with maximum publicity and for the full duration permitted by law, as we aim to secure the highest possible amount to invest in the many other needs of this Town Hall".

 

Criticism from the opposition

The opposition has criticised the government team comprised of PP, Vox and PMP, for putting two municipal plots up for sale to generate revenue while there is a surplus of over 120 million euros. "It is an indecency; that is what it is to be in such a hurry to sell off municipal assets. No one can understand this rush to sell the assets of the people of Mijas, six million euros, so hastily", stated PSOE spokesperson, Roy Pérez.

 

Ciudadanos spokesperson, José Carlos Martín, expressed a similar view: "If we have 120 million euros in the bank, how can you suggest here, and not just suggest it, but include it in the budge, that to repair streetlights or remodel a street you need to sell land? Nobody believes that".

 

Positive Reports

In response, Bravo defended the sale of these lands and stressed that the budget has the necessary statutory reports for final approval. "The law does not allow us to use the surplus", he added, emphasising that "we are not selling off assets for them to disappear; we are exchanging land that is of no use to us and costs us money for other things that we believe are more beneficial, which we will announce as they become a reality throughout the year". Finally, the ouncillor for Finanace clarified that "if the plots are not sold for any reason, we will use the surplus funds, but with the knowledge that we cannot exceed the spending ceiling, as the Ministry would then force us to cut from other departments".

The budgets were approved with the votes of the government team, while PSOE and Cs voted against.

Cleaning, Security, and Social Spending

In a press release, the government team highlighted that the budget represents "a firm commitment to increasing and improving public and road safety, cleanliness, and social spending, which rises by 10%". This is based, the Executive explains, on aid for families and non-profit institutions, home care services, support for people with functional diversity, housing rental assistance, social services, and the social emergency programme. The figure allocated for these items in 2026 is 5.1 million euros, up from 4.7 million euros in 2025.

Regarding Street Cleaning, the local government added that "a significant step is being taken with the outsourcing of cleaning services for public buildings, adding more human and material resources". Additionally, the acquisition of new equipment through co-financed subsidies is planned. This department has been allocated a total of 5.4 million euros for 2026 (4.8 million euros in 2025).

 

Furthermore, the Town Hall emphasised that the 2026 budget includes "the milestone of municipal video surveillance", a project to be managed by the Local Police Coordination Centre (CECOM), aimed at improving public safety, crime prevention, and traffic control. The budget for the Local Police has increased "notably" for this purpose to 3.2 million euros.

Investment in safety also increases for the Fire Service (rising from 100,000 euros in 2025 to 288,000 euros in 2026) and Civil Protection, which receives 96,188 euros this year, "well above the 32,000 euros of the previous financial year", the Executive noted.

Sport

Similarly, the Town Hall highlighted that the new accounts increase support for Mijas sports clubs and entities, with a subsidy allocation of 800,000 euros. This is in addition to the 4,417,404 euros allocated to the Sports Department, "demonstrating the government team's commitment to a discipline that consistently puts Mijas on the national map".

The Parks and Gardens Department will also increase its investment and expenditure in 2026, with an allocation of 6,370,000 euros, up from 5,830,741 euros in 2025. The size of the municipality and the number of green spaces throughout the area "justify this increase in funding for such a prominent department", the Executive stated.

Revenue

The government team explained that the 2026 budget is based on a greater capacity to generate revenue "thanks to growing economic activity, higher than that of neighbouring municipalities, and the constant rise in the registered population (expected to reach 100,000 inhabitants this year)".

In this regard, the Finance Department forecasts revenue increases from the Construction Tax (ICIO, 4.96%), capital gains tax (plusvalía, 3.6%), property tax (IBI, 1.5%), and from State and Autonomous Community revenue sharing.

Finally, the Plenary Session definitively approved the municipal staffing levels for the 2026 financial year.

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