The mayors of Cordoba And Jaén Jose Maria Bellido And Agustin Gonzalezand the mayors of Grenade And Valence Marifran Carazo And Maria Jose Catala They said this Wednesday in Valence to the government of Pedro Sánchez so that it can tackle “once and for all” reform of the local financing system which, as they argued, must be done “at the same time” as regional funding. They also consider that the need for this reform is “imperative”. Above all, given the government’s intention to approve the so-called Catalan quota“which will result in a financial loss for the municipalities“.
The two mayors also consider that the first measure to adopt is to amend local treasury law so that local financing is calculated on gross revenues from State collection, so that “is not weakened by the concessions made to the separatists“.
María José Catalá, who is also spokesperson for the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces, said that in the event that the Catalan quota materializes and becomes law, the Valencia City Council will propose a challenge before the Constitutional Court by a conflict of interest in the defense of local autonomy. An initiative that she herself had already put forward this October 2 during her intervention at the event of New Economy Forum in which she participated as the sole speaker.
This Wednesday, María José Catalá emphasized that “it is not a question of going against anyone, but of defending adequate financing for all municipalities”, because, as she argued: “The quota Catalan will mean the breakdown of the common fund of territorial solidarity and the municipalities will lose economic resources. Catalá also warned that “Municipalities will not be left with the crumbs of funding», also in reference to the Catalan quota.
For his part, the mayor of Cordoba Jose Maria Bellido defended the need for “decent funding”. “What our neighbors deserve is to be on an equal footing with the autonomous communities.” Bellido stressed that municipalities and residents “cannot be the ones who pay this Catalan share which takes from the single fund what belongs to all”.
THE mayor of Granada Marifran Carazo revealed that “we are deeply concerned about the issue of the Catalan quota, since it represents an additional problem to the difficulty that municipalities experience when it comes to providing services on an equal footing with the rest of the municipalities from all over the country.”
Agustin Gonzalez, mayor of Jaén warned that the quality of life of citizens “requires equitable financing” and that it must be “comparable for all citizens”. There cannot be first and second class citizens.
