Naples Finances Improve, but Taxes and Fees Rise
Naples, February 1 – The Naples City Council has approved its 2026 budget, revealing an improved financial outlook for the city. The deficit, which once stood at 5 billion euros, has been reduced by 1.65 billion euros. Payments to suppliers have also seen a significant improvement, now being processed within 30 days compared to the previous four-month waiting period.
However, these financial improvements come with a caveat for residents and tourists alike, as several taxes and fees are set to increase. Since the “Pact for Naples,” the regional Irpef surcharge has risen by 0.1% annually in both 2022 and 2023. A 2-euro airport landing tax was also introduced as part of the pact. The tourist tax, which increased by one euro per night last year during the Jubilee, is slated for another one-euro increase per person per night in 2026. These measures are expected to generate approximately 4 million euros, which will be used to offset the Tari (waste tax) that would otherwise have increased for all residents for the past two years. This “discount,” however, only benefits those who are up-to-date with their payments.
Euro 2032 Bid and Maradona Stadium Renovation
The 2026 budget also earmarks 3 million euros for the executive design of Naples’ bid to host the Euro 2032 football championships, with the Maradona Stadium as a key venue. An additional 300,000 euros has been allocated for the executive design to reopen the stadium’s third tier. These funds complement resources that the Campania Region is set to include in its budget for the stadium’s restructuring and energy efficiency improvements.
Increased Costs for Individual Demand Services
Across the board, the 2026 budget includes a general increase in what are termed “Individual Demand Services.” School meal costs will rise by approximately one euro, though this increase will not affect low-income households. The City Council anticipates recovering an additional one million euros from this increase, adding to the 7 million euros already generated, against a service cost of 18 million euros, two million of which are covered by the state.
The use of city-managed cultural sites will also become more expensive, “but only for tourists,” clarified Finance Councillor Pier Paolo Baretta. Visitors to the Maschio Angioino, for example, will pay approximately 4 euros more for their ticket. Similar increases, with exact figures yet to be defined, will apply to tourists visiting the Pan once it reopens, as well as San Domenico Maggiore, the Casina Pompeiana, or Castel dell’Ovo. Baretta emphasized that these increases will primarily affect “the rental of halls for weddings, exhibitions, and events,” from which the city expects to generate more revenue.
Unexpected Irpef Windfall and Economic Growth
The City Council has also discovered an unexpected “windfall” in its budget from Irpef (personal income tax): an additional 15 million euros collected as an income tax surcharge. Baretta noted that this tax has been “constantly growing, from 70 million in 2022 to 117 million in 2025, with this progression: 80 million in 2023; 106 million in 2024; 117 million in 2025. And we anticipate further increases: to 123.5 million in 2026, 124.5 million in 2027, and 126 million in 2027. This represents almost 50 million euros in three years from 2022 to 2027.”
Baretta highlighted that these increases “go well beyond the effect of the 0.2% increase in the municipal surcharge, decided with the Pact for Naples.” He suggested that this positive outcome could indicate an increase in the number of Neapolitans paying taxes, or a general increase in income. However, Baretta remains unsure “whether it depends on tourism, events, or growing economic activities,” or “whether this increase in income is distributed among all or benefits only a few.” Naples, it seems, is rediscovering its wealth, or perhaps the crackdown on tax evasion is yielding the desired results.
Source: https://napoli.corriere.it/notizie/politica/26_gennaio_31/euro-2032-3-milioni-per-la-candidatura-di-napoli-passa-il-bilancio-aumentano-refezione-e-cosap-52f4de2c-0115-4aac-86f5-474eb9341xlk.shtml
