Palma tourist tax could raise €20.4 million for homes

Palma could put 20.4 million euros a year into public and affordable housing under a proposed local tourist tax. MÉS per Palma unveiled the plan on 8 September and said every euro raised would go to housing. Its estimate is based on 56,000 hotel beds, an average supplement of two euros per person and night, and annual occupancy of 50 percent.

The party says the money could allow Palma City Council to acquire between 70 and 100 homes a year through its legal purchase rights. It also wants the council to declare Palma a pressured residential market area and use those rights when major property holders sell homes.

MÉS spokesperson Neus Truyol said more people in Palma were unable to afford a flat in their own city. She argued that part of tourism's profits should help fund affordable homes.

Sport, land and bus links

The proposal is part of MÉS's demands in the capital-city law now before the Parliament. The party wants Palma to gain more funding and powers.

It also proposes bringing facilities run by other administrations, including Sant Ferran and the Sports Technification Centre, into the Municipal Sports Institute (IME) network. MÉS wants the Balearic Government and the Consell de Mallorca to pay for plots when Palma needs land for schools, residences or other facilities.

The party is also calling for Palma City Council to join the Mallorca Transport Consortium. The option has been in law since 2006, and MÉS says it would improve coordination between the EMT and TIB bus networks.

Topics: Housing · Tourism · Politics · Palma

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com