Social programs receive a striking boost: 54 percent more funding than last year
En el norte del área metropolitana de Madrid, Alcobendas se prepara para gobernar el año 2026 con un presupuesto de casi 249 millones de euros, un 6% más que el ejercicio anterior. La propuesta, presentada por el equipo de gobierno del Partido Popular, refleja una administración que ha saneado sus cuentas y ahora dirige recursos crecientes hacia lo social, lo infraestructural y lo habitacional, sin elevar la carga fiscal a sus ciudadanos. En un tiempo en que muchos municipios navegan entre deuda y recorte, Alcobendas ofrece un modelo distinto: el de la expansión sostenida desde la austeridad previa.
- El gasto en inversión sube un 20% hasta los 36 millones de euros, impulsado por el dinamismo empresarial del municipio y una recaudación que crece más de un 6%.
- Los programas sociales reciben un incremento del 54%, con especial atención a mayores, familias numerosas y servicios de atención domiciliaria, convirtiéndose en la mayor partida del presupuesto.
- La ciudad destinará 8,9 millones a su empresa municipal de vivienda para construir 110 nuevas unidades en tres promociones distintas, respondiendo a una demanda habitacional creciente.
- A pesar del aumento del gasto, todos los impuestos, tasas y tarifas públicas quedan congelados, y el IBI se mantiene en el mínimo legal, con beneficios fiscales ampliados para familias numerosas.
- Con 33 millones en reservas, cero deuda y un superávit de casi 14 millones al cierre del año, el presupuesto entra en período de enmiendas con previsión de aprobación definitiva en unos quince días.
Alcobendas, municipio del norte metropolitano de Madrid, ha presentado su proyecto de presupuesto para 2026: 248,9 millones de euros, un 6% más que el año anterior. El gobierno municipal del Partido Popular lo ha hecho por tercer año consecutivo dentro del plazo previsto, y espera que el pleno lo apruebe en un plazo de dos semanas, tras el período de enmiendas.
La concejala de Hacienda, Marta Martín, ha subrayado que este crecimiento del gasto se sustenta en una posición financiera sólida: la ciudad cierra 2025 sin deuda, con un superávit de casi 14 millones y 33 millones en fondos de reserva. El plazo medio de pago a proveedores se ha reducido a 23 días. Pese a la expansión presupuestaria, todos los impuestos y tasas municipales quedan congelados, y el IBI se mantiene en el mínimo legal.
La principal apuesta del presupuesto es social: los programas de atención a personas mayores, familias y dependientes reciben un 54% más de financiación, hasta los 2,7 millones de euros. Los servicios de comedor en centros de día para mayores crecen un 74%, y la atención domiciliaria recibe 55.000 euros adicionales. A ello se suma una inversión de 8,9 millones en la empresa municipal de vivienda, que continuará dos promociones en marcha —80 viviendas en total— y lanzará una tercera de 30 nuevas unidades.
El resto del presupuesto se distribuye entre infraestructuras, seguridad y equipamientos. Dos millones irán a repavimentación de calles; 1,5 millones, a parques, aceras y mobiliario urbano; 1,25 millones, a reparación de colegios; y más de un millón a seguridad ciudadana, incluyendo un programa piloto contra la ocupación ilegal de viviendas vacías. La Comunidad de Madrid aportará 7,4 millones para servicios sociales de base, escuelas infantiles y un centro de día para personas con alzhéimer.
Alcobendas, a municipality in Madrid's northern suburbs, is preparing to spend nearly 249 million euros next year—about 6 percent more than it allocated for 2025. The city council, controlled by the Popular Party, unveiled the draft budget this week, and if the amendment period proceeds as planned, it should reach a final vote within a fortnight.
The numbers tell a story of a municipality in solid financial footing. Investment spending will jump to 36 million euros, a 20 percent increase from the current year, funded partly by a surge in local business activity and the growth of companies paying taxes in Alcobendas. The city's revenue is expected to climb 6.17 percent overall. Yet despite this expansion, the municipal government has frozen all taxes, fees, and public service charges. The property tax, or IBI, will remain at the legal minimum. Families with multiple children will see their tax breaks expand.
Marta Martín, the councilor overseeing finances and the economy, attributes this restraint to what she calls a cleaned-up municipal balance sheet. When the current administration took office, it inherited troubled accounts. Now, the city holds 33 million euros in reserve funds and will close this year with zero debt and a surplus of nearly 14 million euros. The average time to pay suppliers has shrunk to 23 days. Alcobendas, Martín noted, carries the lightest tax burden of any Madrid municipality with more than 100,000 residents.
The budget's priorities reveal what the city leadership believes matters most. Social programs receive a striking boost: 54 percent more funding than last year, totaling 2.7 million euros and becoming the largest category in the municipal accounts. Within that, spending on meals, dinners, and cafeteria services at senior centers will rise 74 percent. Home care services for elderly and dependent residents will receive an additional 55,000 euros. The city is also investing 8.9 million euros in its municipal housing company to continue construction on two existing projects—41 units on Marqués de la Valdavia street and 39 on Doctor Ángel Olivares street—while launching a third development of 30 new homes on Diego Salmerón street.
Beyond social spending, the budget allocates resources across infrastructure and public safety. A pneumatic waste collection system expansion will consume three million euros of a larger seven-million-euro initiative. Road resurfacing will receive two million euros. Parks, gardens, sidewalks, and public furniture improvements will draw 1.5 million euros. Schools and municipal educational facilities will see 1.25 million euros in repairs and upgrades, with an additional half-million euros to begin construction of a new Family and Child Support Center. Public safety investments total 1.05 million euros, including perimeter fencing for four parks and recreational areas, modernization of police district headquarters, and a pilot program to test anti-squatting systems for vacant homes.
The regional government of Madrid will contribute 7.4 million euros to support primary social care programs, anti-gender-violence initiatives, municipal preschools, addiction treatment services, and an Alzheimer's day center. The city is also investing more than 2.5 million euros in sports promotion, including a project to cover the paddle tennis courts at the Valdelasfuentes Sports Complex and the creation of outdoor calisthenics facilities.
This marks the third consecutive budget the Popular Party administration has presented on schedule. The draft now enters a period where opposition parties and other political groups can propose amendments. Martín expects the full municipal council to vote on the final version within about two weeks, clearing the way for the budget to take effect when the new year begins.
Notable Quotes
Alcobendas carries the lightest tax burden of any Madrid municipality with more than 100,000 residents— Marta Martín, councilor for economy and finance
The city will close the current fiscal year with zero debt and a surplus of 13.9 million euros— Marta Martín
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why does a city freeze taxes while increasing spending by 6 percent? That seems to contradict itself.
It doesn't, actually. The growth comes from more businesses moving to Alcobendas and more economic activity overall. The tax base is expanding even though the rate stays the same. That's the math that makes it work.
So the city is banking on growth to fund ambition without asking residents to pay more.
Exactly. And they're sitting on 33 million euros in reserves with zero debt, so they have room to invest. They're not borrowing against the future.
The social programs jump 54 percent. That's a dramatic shift. What changed?
The council is signaling that elderly care and family support are now the priority. Meals at senior centers, home care for dependent people—these are expensive services, and they're doubling down on them.
Is this political, or is there a demographic reason?
Probably both. Madrid's suburbs are aging. But it's also a choice about values—what the administration believes the city should fund. They're saying: this matters more than other things.
And the housing investment—110 new public units across three projects. Is that enough?
It's a start. Eight-point-nine million euros is real money, but housing shortages in Madrid are structural. This is one city's answer, not a solution to the region's problem.