The municipal budget for 2022 will grow by 4.7% compared to 2021, with an additional 153 million euros. This has been the trend since 2015, increasing the city’s accounts by 33.5%, or over 850 million euros. The budget was approved thanks to favourable votes from the municipal government, Barcelona pel Canvi and the independent councillor. The ERC abstained, while Junts per Catalunya, Ciutadans and the Partit Popular voted against it.

The Full Council also approved the tax by-laws for next year, which set out a freeze on taxes and include a discount of 75% for the tax on terraces, fairs and newsstands or a 30% reduction in the waste collection tax. The by-laws were approved with votes from the municipal government, abstentions from the ERC, Barcelona pel Canvi and the independent councillor, while Junts per Catalunya, Cs and the PP voted against them.

Priority areas from the 2022 budget

Municipal investment also reaches a new record, at 903.1 million euros. The City Council will provide 753.5 million of this figure, with the rest to come from the municipal companies Barcelona de Serveis Municipals (BSM) and the Barcelona Municipal Housing Institute (IMHAB).

Notable budgetary items include more backing for social services, the green transformation and the reactivation of the economy:

• Support for people: 412.4 million euros will be allocated for social services, representing an increase of more than 15% compared to last year. There will also be increases of around 10% for culture and education (391.2 million euros) and land and housing (213.5 million euros), while the budget for health is set to grow by 64.6% compared to 2021, with 37.2 million euros.
• Public space: funding for maintenance, cleaning, waste collection and sanitation reaches 470 million euros, some 10.7% more than last year, while 234.4 million euros will be used towards the urban and green transformation, some 11.1% more than in 2021.
• Other notable budgetary items: 169.75 million euros has been earmarked for economic promotion, to help reactivate commerce in the city, while 218.6 million will be used for public transport and 345.32 million for safety, prevention and traffic management.

In addition, notable projects covered in next year’s budget include:

• Urban planning and greenery: superblocks, enlarging safe spaces around schools, more bike lanes, connecting the tram systems and revamping streets such as La Rambla, Av. Meridiana, Via Laietana and Gran Via.
• Commerce and markets: more progress is envisaged in the projects to revamp the Abaceria and Horta markets, as well as the cooperative pool.
• Neighbourhood services: schools, libraries and centres for the vulnerable, centres for the elderly and community centres are included in the plans for improvements over the coming year, while the Neighbourhood Plan will continue to be promoted.

Next year’s numbers also envisage an increase of 100 million euros in municipal deficit, to fund part of the investments. The budget plans a gross saving of above 15% in current expenditure, an optimal figure enabling the City Council to maintain its financial solvency.