The Etxebarri City Council approved its fiscal ordinances for 2027 in the plenary session on September 29th. Amidst rising costs affecting families, the council has made an effort to contain municipal taxes and fees. Consequently, services with high user numbers such as Etxebarribus, the Euskaltegi (Basque language school), the Social Services department, and the Cultural Area will not see their prices increase.
Etxebarribus continues to be the most affordable transport option in the Historical Territory of Bizkaia, even when compared to operators like Metro Bilbao or Bizkaibus.
The fee increases affecting all residents focus on three areas: the Property Tax (IBI) will rise by 3% (approximately €6-8 per household per year), the Tax on Motor Vehicles (IVTM) by 2% (between €2 and €4 per year for most common vehicles), and the waste collection fee by 2% (62 cents per household per quarter).
Additionally, the cost of parking in OTA zones will increase by approximately 4%, although annual concessions for local business employees and rental vehicles will remain unchanged. The fee for the tow truck service, provided by an external company, will be updated according to its municipal cost.
Management improvements include easier installment or deferral of municipal debts starting from €50 (previously €600 minimum) and up to 36 months (previously 24). IVTM bonuses for hybrid or electric vehicles will be applied automatically, with applications only required for ownership changes. The deadline to request these bonuses is extended to December 31st.
Following the lead of other Basque municipalities, Etxebarri has approved a new ordinance to regulate tourist accommodations, applying the maximum permitted fee to tourist flats and apartments to curb their proliferation.
