On October 2, 2026, the City Council of Sestao approved the tax regulations for the 2027 fiscal year during a plenary session. The council will implement a general 2% increase in municipal fees and taxes, a decision that falls below the Consumer Price Index (CPI) of Bizkaia, which stood at 4.9% in August.
The local government believes that fully passing on the CPI increase to municipal taxes would be excessive for residents, opting instead for a limited adjustment of 2%. This revision aims to ensure the council's financial capacity to manage rising costs in the upcoming year, including updates to municipal contracts and staff salaries.
“We sought a balance between the need to update municipal revenues and the desire not to pass on the entire cost increase to citizens,” explained David Sánchez Maroto, the councilor for finance.
Sánchez Maroto emphasized that while the CPI was 4.9%, a proportional increase would not be reasonable. The 2% adjustment allows the council to address some of the rising municipal expenses without fully burdening families.
Freezing of waste collection fees and access to sports facilities
The general 2% increase will not apply uniformly across all municipal services. The council has decided to freeze fees for municipal sports facilities, ensuring that prices will not rise in 2027. The waste collection fee will also remain unchanged during the next fiscal year.
“The 2% adjustment is a general measure, but we wanted to make a specific effort in services that directly impact citizens' daily lives,” Sánchez Maroto noted.
Introduction of a tourist accommodation tax
Additionally, the council has approved a Tourist Accommodation Tax, which will take effect in Sestao in 2027. This tax will apply to overnight stays in tourist accommodations within the municipality. For tourist homes, the council will implement the maximum allowable rate of €6.50 per person per night, applicable to both rooms and entire apartments.
This decision reflects the current housing market situation in Sestao, where there is a pressing need for residential housing. Sánchez Maroto explained, “The goal of this measure is to incorporate the reality of the housing market into municipal fiscal policy.”
For other tourist accommodations, the council will apply 50% of the price scale proposed by EUDEL, the Basque municipal association. For pensions, the fee will be €1.25 per person per night, while hotels will charge between €1.25 and €5.50 per person per night, depending on the establishment's category.
If the occupancy rates of local hotels remain consistent with this year's figures, the council anticipates generating approximately €200,000 from the new tax, funds that will be used to bolster the municipal budget.
“The tourist tax will ensure that temporary visitors to Sestao also contribute to the maintenance of municipal services, while we establish a specific approach for tourist homes due to their impact on the residential market,” Sánchez Maroto added.
