The Praia da Vitória City Council budget for 2026 amounts to €19.7 million. According to a statement released by the local authority, the document sets aside €6.5 million for investments, notably work on Rua Padre Damião, the refurbishment of the Prainha bar, the refurbishment of the car park in Largo da Batalha, the refurbishment of the Facho steps, and the first phase of the Lajes Business Park.

According to Vânia Ferreira, who presented the document at the Municipal Assembly held in the parish of Fontinhas, the budget reflects the “commitment to rigorous accounting and the execution of structural investments that do not jeopardize the municipality’s financial recovery.”

“The Plan and Budget for 2026 is a realistic, serious, and rigorous document, which, above all, sets out what is achievable. That is our hallmark: doing what is achievable and realistic, based on the constant concern not to jeopardize the financial recovery of the municipality,” emphasizes the mayor of Praia.

“The budget amounts to €19.7 million, with 33% of the funds earmarked for investments and 66% for current expenses. Of these, personnel expenses represent the largest amount, but compared to 2025, there is a decrease of 2.5%. In addition, the budget also reflects a 14% reduction in debt charges, as a result of the work carried out in recent years. These figures reflect our action and commitment to debt repayment and the financial recovery of the City Council. It is thanks to this work that we will be able to continue to make important investments in 2026,” says Vânia Ferreira.

With regard to public works, the mayor highlights the intervention on Rua Padre Damião, one of the “gateways to the city that has long been in need of work to improve the pavement and reorganize access to the city and the Praia da Vitória Primary and Integrated School.”

She also highlights work on Rua Santo António do Rossio; the refurbishment of the stairway leading to the Miradouro do Facho viewpoint (which includes the restoration of walls and steps, the installation of lighting and street furniture, parking at the bottom of the climb, and the creation of spaces to enjoy the landscape along the route); the complete refurbishment of the Prainha bar; the intervention to protect the Porto Martins coastline (focusing on Canada do Vicente, Canada da Rocha, and Estrada de Santa Margarida, with the project co-financed by Açores 2030); the preliminary study for the protection and defense of the Praia da Vitória urban coastline; the intervention at the Vila Nova School; the redevelopment and drainage of the parking lot at Largo da Batalha; the intervention of the Environmental Interpretation Center in Paul da Pedreira to reinforce tourist attractions in the municipality; and the completion of the first phase of the Lajes Business Park (where 13 lots are planned to be created and access to Via Vitorino Nemésio), if the project obtains approval of the application submitted to Açores 2030.

“These are some of the investments that are scheduled and that we are fully capable of implementing next year,” emphasizes Vânia Ferreira.

In her presentation, the mayor of Praia also highlighted the 44.6% increase in revenue from the municipal surcharge, “a result of greater business and economic dynamism in the municipality.”

In Correio dos Açores-Natalino Viveiros-director

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