OE2027? ANMP gives overall positive opinion but requires commitments

A National Association of Portuguese Municipalities (ANMP) gave an overall positive opinion on the state budget proposal for 2007, but requires the government to comply with funding commitments in crucial areas, said President Pedro Pimpão today.

At the end of a meeting of the Board of Directors of ANMP, which took place in Mourão, in the district of Évora, Pedro Pimpão (PSD) said that the association considered that “the budget of this proposal is generally positive”, but, “in a context of much pressure on the municipalities”, it is necessary to materialize commitments of financial assistance that allow them to face challenges such as the execution of Community funds and support for the Chambers that were most affected by the storm train.

“ This bill is generally positive, in the sense that it complies with what is laid down in the current local finance law [LFL], with an increase for municipalities in the 6.3% household, in a context in which we believe it is a context of transition,” Lusa said, stressing that there is a government commitment to present by the end of this year a new version of the LFL, to be implemented in 2027 and to enter into force in the Budget of 2028.

“Yes, we hope there will be an effective strengthening of the financial resources for the municipalities,” he added.

However, despite the fact that the proposal complies with the LFL, Pimpão has shown concern about the “pressure on municipalities” in relation to various issues, because these authorities have taken on “a growing number of responsibilities” that depend on “answers that are being articulated directly with the government”.

“ First of all, all works that have not been completed within the framework of the RRP, whose funding must be continued”, in conjunction with the Government and the Regional Coordination and Development Commissions (CCDR), said, stressing that they are infrastructure in “ crucial areas” such as Health and Education, in which the municipalities have taken responsibility with the government’s commitment to funding.

On the other hand, he stressed the need to accelerate the implementation of Portugal’s 2030 targets, in which the municipalities participate, and the need for a National Commission for Monitoring and Monitoring the decentralised competences for the Chambers, particularly in the field of Education, “where there is a greater financial impact, so that there is an effective updating of the values associated with this process”.

Pedro Pimpão considered that there should be an exception for these municipalities within the recently established deadlines for the law of late commitments, “in order to adapt municipalities to this responsibility”.

Another theme is related to a notice of applications to the Municipal Emergency Fund (EMF), by the end of November, to help municipalities affected by the storms of the beginning of the year in the financial effort to recover public equipment in their territories.

“ This warning defines 60% with national participation and then 40% with municipal effort. What we understand is that there should be an effort here to finance 100% of the equipment affected by the storms ", said.

As in recent years, municipalities still require a reduction to the minimum VAT rate of public lighting and school meals paid by the Chambers.

They also believe that there should be a return of the Waste Management Rate (RMR) supported by municipalities “precisely to accelerate recycling targets” imposed internationally and that municipalities should help to achieve.

Next Friday, the General Council of ANMP meets in Coimbra to deliver its final opinion on the proposal for OE2027.