Guayaquil municipality reports revenue growth and new regularization reforms

The Municipality of Guayaquil reported a significant increase in revenue, collecting $254.3 million in taxes, fees, and contributions between January and September 2026. This represents a 16.34% increase compared to the same period in 2025 and a 22.75% increase over 2024. Major revenue drivers include the 1.5 per thousand tax on total assets ($48.1 million), waste collection fees ($45 million), and urban property taxes ($32.7 million). The Special Contribution for Improvements (CEM) accounted for $17.1 million, though this specific charge has faced public scrutiny from citizens who claim they do not see corresponding infrastructure works in their sectors.

In tandem with these financial developments, the city administration is implementing policies to simplify municipal procedures to facilitate the regularization of buildings and economic activities. A sixth reform to the ordinance for cadastral updating and building regularization has been approved to expand formalization options. Since May 2023, this initiative has processed 70,644 requests, primarily for building regularizations. Approximately 75% of approved requests involve properties hosting neighborhood businesses, such as grocery stores, hair salons, and clinics, helping to integrate them into the formal municipal registry.