Llodio creates a municipal dining room for seniors with prices based on income

The Llodio City Council has approved the creation of a municipal dining service for elderly people, with public prices ranging between 3 and 7 euros per menu depending on the income of the cohabiting unit. The modification of ordinance number 9, which regulates public prices for the provision of services or the performance of municipal activities, was approved by the Plenary in the session of August 31, 2026, and is published in full in the Official Gazette of the Historical Territory of Álava (BOTHA) number 103, dated September 9, 2026 (reference 2026-02543).

The measure, promoted by the Social Cohesion area, responds to the aging population of Llodio and seeks to guarantee a balanced menu or diet at a price appropriate to the socioeconomic situation of each applicant, encouraging the presence of elderly people in their environment and an optimal quality of life. The agreement was signed on September 1, 2026, by the mayor-president, Ainize Gastaka Martínez.

Regulatory Framework

The modification is processed in accordance with article 52 of the Provincial Regulatory Decree 1/2021, of the Provincial Government Council of September 29, which approves the consolidated text of the Provincial Norm regulating Local Treasuries, and article 47 of the Royal Legislative Decree 2/2004, of March 5, which approves the consolidated text of the Law Regulating Local Treasuries. Both grant the Plenary of the corporation the competence to establish or modify public prices.

The file incorporates the report from the city council’s general secretary, dated August 18, 2026, and the opinion of the General Permanent Information Commission for Plenary Affairs and Motions. The agreement will enter into force on the date of publication in the BOTHA.

Rates according to income

The public price is accrued per menu and does not include VAT, which will be applied according to the rate in force at the time of accrual. To assign the reduced rates, the concepts of cohabiting unit and guaranteed maximum income (RMG) established in articles 25 and 32 of Law 14/2022, of December 22, of the Basque System of Income Guarantee and Inclusion are used. The income brackets set the following prices:

• 3.00 euros/menu: income lower than the guaranteed maximum income.
• 4.00 euros/menu: income between 1 and 1.5 times the RMG.
• 6.00 euros/menu: income between 1.5 and 2 times the RMG.
• 7.00 euros/menu: income higher than 2 times the RMG.

With the amounts updated to 2026, for a cohabiting unit of one pensioner, the RMG is 1,107.84 euros/month; for two people, 1,399.38 euros/month; and for three, 1,574.30 euros/month. The amounts will be updated each fiscal year without the need to modify the ordinance.

Registration, payment and management

To access the service, the user must submit a registration request to the general registry of the city council using a standardized form, including the bank account number for the direct debit of monthly payments and the intended form of use. The reduced rate may be requested on the form, and the city council may be authorized to consult income and asset data through the Interoperability and Security Node of the Administrations of the Basque Country (NISAE).

The city council will issue monthly settlements based on the meals actually consumed, and payment will be made via direct debit or other accepted means. Non-payment will lead to the application of municipal collection regulations and may constitute grounds for termination of the service. No fee will be accrued for meals where the absence has been communicated and justified in accordance with the service’s regulatory ordinance.

Social Impact

The initiative makes Llodio one of the municipalities in Álava that opt for a social dining service with progressive rates, so that elderly people with fewer resources can access a balanced diet for 3 euros per menu. The measure reinforces active and healthy aging policies and extends the autonomy of elderly people in their daily lives, within a context of increasing local demographic aging.

Source: Official Gazette of the Historical Territory of Álava (BOTHA), no. 103, September 9, 2026, section II - Local Administration (official reference: 2026-02543).