Plan Económico de Cartagena congela IBI residencial y mantiene incentivos fiscales.

The Local Government Board of the Cartagena City Council, chaired by the mayoress, Noelia Arroyo, approved today the project of the tax regulations for 2025 and an Economic-Financial Plan (PEF) for the years 2025 and 2026: an administrative formality that corrects the economic imbalance caused by the lack of income committed by the central government in 2024.

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The imbalance, amounting to 4.9 million euros, was caused by the non-payment of the account transfers included in the municipal budget. These transfers, essential for income calculation, were not paid during the fiscal year, leading to a temporary gap that has now been rectified.

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Despite this situation, the municipal government froze the Property Tax (IBI) for all primary residences. The only exception applies to urban plots with higher cadastral value, which will remain subject to a higher rate while remaining undeveloped.

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The Councilor for Finance, Ignacio J�udenes, explained that «this is a measure incorporated into the Municipal Housing Strategy, which aims to encourage construction on vacant well-located land to facilitate housing creation.»

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The plan maintains tax incentives for investment and employment, with up to 95% reductions in the Construction, Facilities, and Works Tax (ICIO) and 50% reductions in the Economic Activities Tax (IAE) for new activities. It also consolidates tax management digitalization.

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Cartagena maintains one of the lowest Average Payment Periods to Suppliers (PMP) in the country, with an average of 7.4 days at the end of 2024. The consolidated municipal debt stands at 27.6% of adjusted current income, well below the legal limit.

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The plan includes budget efficiency measures, such as containing non-essential current expenses, reviewing contracts, and an agreement to freeze credits amounting to 3.6 million euros.

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Additionally, there is a revision of vehicle tax reductions based on fuel type, once the goal of promoting electric, hybrid, or alternative energy vehicles that justified their implementation has been achieved.

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Discounts

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Starting in 2025, self-employed individuals engaged in job creation-related projects can deduct 50% of the ICIO from the first employment contract. «The goal is clear: rewarding those who invest, hire, and bet on Cartagena,» J�udenes stated.

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The 60% reduction in ICIO for new hotels and tourist accommodations on the coast is maintained as an incentive for creating stable employment in coastal areas. The 95% reduction in municipal capital gains tax for inheritances of primary residences between spouses or parents and children also remains in effect.

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Regarding IBI, large families can benefit from a 90% reduction for special category families, while the reduction is increased from 60% to 70% for general category families, in both cases for their primary residence and automatically granted for the duration of the title, without the need for annual renewal.

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It is also worth noting the free municipal childcare centers starting in September, as approved by the Governing Board, under the public prices section.

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The tax revision for 2025 is carried out without passing on the general cost increase to the taxpayer, despite the accumulated CPI increase since 2018, which J�udenes estimates at 22.2%, and the rise in contributions, works, and contract reviews that also affect the administration. «Since Pedro S�nchez took office, the tax burden has increased by almost four percentage points of GDP, reaching 39%, and the State has collected an additional 41.7 billion euros through new taxes and tax hikes. This increased revenue has hardly reached the City Councils because we are still awaiting new funding,» he stated.

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Other matters of the Governing Board

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Among other matters, the Governing Board also approved the proposal to apply for a grant for the implementation of the «Living Carob» project under the biodiversity foundation’s call, as well as the regulatory ordinance project for the Home Care Service and complementary services, which will provide legal security, transparency, and uniform criteria for the provision of these services in the primary social care framework, especially following the increase in beneficiaries, diversification of modalities, and consolidation of Home Care as a key tool for local care.

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Furthermore, a budget of 73,911 euros, fully funded by Recovery and Resilience Mechanism (RRM) funds, has been allocated for support to families with minors at risk of neglect, and another for the implementation of the European Project «BeatTheHeat: A data space for urban heat island mitigation and climate-resilient cities», led by the Cartagena City Council as the coordinating entity.

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Similarly, the collaboration agreement with the Federation of Troops and Legions for the celebration of the Carthaginian and Roman Festivities 2025 has been approved, with the City Council granting a direct subsidy of 204,000 euros. It will also provide services such as security, cleaning, municipal brigades, camp infrastructure, grandstand installation, access, evacuation, power supply, signage, parking areas, and more.

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The Federation will be responsible for the internal organization of the festival camp, event programming, and compliance with relevant authorizations.

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Another agreement moving forward is the collaboration between the City Council, ADLE, and INCYDE for the implementation of the «Entrepreneur and Advance Cartagena» project, which will facilitate the organization of training sessions, mentoring, workshops, and follow-ups for entrepreneurs, preferably the unemployed, in areas such as digital transformation, cybersecurity, and improving local commerce.

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Finally, among other matters, the correction of the street name Peroni�o in the Concepci�n neighborhood has been approved, which will now be displayed as Calle Pero Ni�o in accordance with the genuine origin of this name honoring the famous military leader and Castilian admiral of the 14th century who served King Enrique III of Castile.

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