Palma doubles capital funding to €60m, adds renter help

Palma, Mallorca, is set to receive at least 60 million euros a year for its role as a capital city — double the previous minimum. The Balearic Parliament approved the change to Palma’s capital-city law on Tuesday. The reform also provides for a council service to help tenants with rental problems and the risk of losing their homes.

More money for Palma

Palma City Council says the annual payment will be recalculated using changes in prices and the city’s population. If that produces a lower figure than the year before, Palma will keep the higher amount. The reform also strengthens funding obligations for other authorities when the council provides services that are their responsibility or are delivered jointly.

Help with housing

The new tenant service will offer information, legal advice and support on issues involving a person’s main rented home. The city will also be able to set up programmes that make privately owned homes available at affordable rents.

A new municipal housing company will develop, build, renovate and manage protected housing. It will also look after the city’s public housing stock.

A bigger say for districts

Each district will have its own management team, with technical staff and delegated powers over matters including streets, maintenance and local transport. Districts will also receive an annual budget they can manage directly.

New district councils, bringing together political and neighbourhood representatives, must give their views before decisions on planned investment in their area. They will also be consulted on major planning changes and local sustainable transport plans.

Topics: Housing · Politics · Palma · Calvià · Marratxí · Llucmajor

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com