The Municipal Assembly of Portimão approved, at the beginning of February, the Municipal Budget and the Major Planning Options for the 2026–2030 period, following their prior approval at a meeting of the Municipal Council (Câmara Municipal), thereby concluding the discussion and voting process on this key guiding document of the municipality’s public policy.
The approval of the Budget takes place within a new plural political context, marked by a relative majority, and results from a broad effort of dialogue and coordination, incorporating proposals submitted by different political forces represented in the municipal bodies.
In this context, particular note is made of the inclusion of short-term projects such as the establishment of a Municipal Police force, reflecting a governance approach grounded in institutional responsibility, respect for the democratic functioning of municipal bodies, and the prioritisation of the public interest over political deadlock.
The Municipal Budget for 2026 amounts to a total of €98.3 million and provides for an overall tax reduction estimated at €1.8 million, reflecting a fiscal policy oriented toward social fairness, support for the local economy, and the sustainability of municipal finances.
With regard to investment, the strategic priorities of the Municipality of Portimão for 2026 are focused on structural areas essential to quality of life and the sustainable development of the municipality.
Habitation
Housing assumes a central role, with the implementation of the Local Housing Strategy, the construction of new housing units, and the rehabilitation of the municipal housing stock, addressing one of the territory’s principal social needs.
In parallel, public space, urban regeneration, and mobility are established as fundamental pillars of territorial cohesion and urban life, contributing to a more functional, accessible, and enhanced city.
Education
In the field of education, the Budget ensures the continuation of all social support measures, guarantees free school meals, and provides for continued investment in the improvement of the School Infrastructure, thereby reinforcing equal opportunities and the well-being of the educational community.
The planned public investment reflects a medium- and long-term strategy, with an allocation of €35.5 million in 2026 and a total projected volume of €225.9 million for the period between 2027 and 2030.
Structural Projects
This effort will enable the implementation of structural projects for the municipality, including the extension of Avenida Paul Harris through Via V2, the urban and sports redevelopment of Quinta do Amparo, and the rehabilitation of Casa Manuel Teixeira Gomes—facilities of recognised historical, cultural, and urban significance to Portimão.
The Municipal Budget for 2026 further reinforces the commitment to administrative modernisation, security, and civil protection, adopting transparency and proximity as guiding principles of municipal action.
The creation of a Municipal Transparency Portal is foreseen, as well as the advancement of a video surveillance system, subject to the necessary national authorisations.
The document also enshrines the commitment to the implementation of the Municipal Police and the strengthening of Civil Protection, with particular emphasis on the role of firefighters, including the progressive alignment of their remuneration with that of professional municipal firefighters (“sapadores”), recognising the importance of these professionals in safeguarding the population’s safety and protection.
With regard to the voting process, the Municipal Budget and the Major Planning Options for 2026–2030 were approved at the Municipal Council meeting with votes in favour from the Permanent Executive (PS) and Councillor Ester Coelho (Chega), with abstentions from the two PSD councillors, Carlos Martins and Alexandra Evangelista, and from Chega councillor Pedro Castelo Xavier, and a vote against from Chega councillor João Paulo Graça.
At the Municipal Assembly, the document received favourable votes from the Socialist Party bench and the Bureau of the Municipal Assembly, abstentions from the PSD members, and votes against from the remaining political forces represented in that body.
