Playa del Carmen Mayor Explains Property Tax Reform Plan

Playa del Carmen, Mexico — In response to growing controversy over potential increases in property tax assessments, Playa del Carmen Mayor Estefanía Mercado clarified that her administration is not seeking indiscriminate hikes but rather correcting historical inequities in the local fiscal system.

Addressing “A Historic Injustice”

In a video statement shared on social media, Mercado acknowledged widespread misinformation about the proposed changes and emphasized that the process remains in a public consultation phase, open to dialogue with all stakeholders.

“A great deal has been said in recent days—inaccurately—about us raising property tax values. The truth is, what exists today in Playa del Carmen is an inherited injustice,” Mercado stated.

To illustrate the disparity, the mayor cited examples: “A luxury beachfront hotel pays just 50 pesos per square meter, while a home in Villas del Sol pays up to 1,200 pesos per square meter.” She argued that working-class families should not bear a heavier tax burden than major beachfront hotel developers.

Scope of the Proposed Changes

Mercado assured that “affordable housing and working-class neighborhoods will not be affected,” noting that some properties might even see reduced assessments. The adjustments, she explained, primarily target “large hotels and high-value properties paying below their fair share.”

“With this measure, we achieve fiscal justice and secure resources to improve services and infrastructure for all Playa del Carmen residents,” the mayor concluded.

Hotel Industry Pushback

The mayor’s statement follows a public appeal from the Mexican Caribbean Hotel Association, which urged reconsideration of what it called an “excessive increase” in assessments. The group warned of potential harm to tourism competitiveness and requested technical discussions to avoid negative impacts on investment and employment.

The municipal government has not yet announced a timeline for finalizing the proposed changes.