Barcelona City Council will meet on Friday 25 September to vote on its proposed 2027 tax ordinances, after the package failed to secure support at the Economy Commission. The result matters for residents, self-employed workers and small businesses because the proposal freezes their municipal taxes, while raising the IBI property-tax rate paid by luxury hotels.

The plenary session, held during the La Mercè festival, will also decide on a separate increase in the city’s tourist-tax surcharge for cruise passengers who spend less than 12 hours in Barcelona. That measure has already received backing in committee from the governing PSC, Junts and ERC.

Luxury-hotel IBI rise still needs a majority

The proposed ordinances would increase the IBI rate for luxury hotels from 1.17% to 1.30%, the legal maximum. IBI is the annual municipal property tax paid by owners.

According to betevé, the package did not pass the Economy Commission after Junts voted against it and Barcelona en Comú abstained. If the talks between the PSC government and Barcelona en Comú have produced an agreement, Barcelona en Comú could support the ordinances in Friday’s vote.

Without approval in the plenary, the ordinances cannot move to the public-consultation stage of the municipal process. The proposed freeze for households, self-employed workers and small and medium-sized businesses would therefore not proceed under this package.

Cruise surcharge would rise in stages to 2030

Councillors will separately vote on a phased increase in the municipal tourist-tax surcharge for transit cruise passengers, defined as visitors who spend less than 12 hours in the city. Under the proposal, the municipal element would rise from €5 to €12 in 2027 and then increase by €4 each year to reach €24 in 2030.

  • 2027: €12 municipal surcharge, plus the Generalitat’s €6 tourist tax, making €18 in total.
  • 2030: €24 municipal surcharge, plus the €6 Generalitat tax, making €30 in total.
  • Use of revenue: Junts has agreed that additional income should help fund shade measures, including awnings in play areas, trees and public fountains; ERC has secured funding for support classes and extracurricular activities for children with greater needs.

Barcelona en Comú opposes the staged approach because it wants the higher charge introduced in full next year, while the PP and Vox oppose increasing the levy, according to betevé.

Friday’s agenda also includes the city’s proposed €224.4 million contribution to metropolitan public transport for 2026, under an agreement with the Autoritat del Transport Metropolità, the body that coordinates public transport fares and funding across the Barcelona area.

Reported by totbarcelona.cat, en.ara.cat, beteve.cat, barna.news, lavanguardia.com, es.ara.cat, larazon.es, elDiario.es Catalunya, Tot Barcelona.