Estepona council has approved the largest ever reduction in property tax (IBI) for residents, with the latest bills showing an average 20% cut — a move that saves local households a combined €6.1 million.
Debt-free and passing on the benefits
The measure, which applies to nearly 38,000 homes, comes after the town hall paid off a €304 million debt inherited from previous administrations, according to press reports. With the books now in order and a treasury surplus of €45 million from 2024, the council says it can afford to redirect resources into easing household costs.
Mayor José María García Urbano hailed the decision as “historic”, pointing out that Estepona has now achieved a cumulative 50% reduction in IBI rates since 2011. “This is the reward for years of financial discipline,” he told the press, accusing opposition parties of turning their backs on residents by failing to support the measure in council.
Waste fee discount for recycling
Alongside the IBI cut, the town hall has also introduced a small but symbolic incentive on waste fees. From 2026, households that deposit at least three batches of certain types of waste — including old electronics, furniture, oils, or clothes — at the municipal recycling point will be eligible for a 3% discount on their annual waste collection bill. Vulnerable groups such as retirees and the long-term unemployed already benefit from waste fee relief.
A striking turnaround
The scale of the turnaround in Estepona’s finances is remarkable. When García Urbano first took office, the municipality was among the most indebted in Spain, with unpaid suppliers and even basic services like police fuel threatened. Today, the debt is gone, services are funded, and residents are seeing the benefits in their tax bills.
