Deputies of Santa Fe raise their concern about the drop in national funds allocated to the provinces
The provincial deputy Mariano Cuvertino (United to Change Santa Fe), presented a statement during the last session of deputies, in which they expressed their concern about the drastic drop and unequal distribution of transfers from the national state to provincial and municipal governments during the first four months of the year. .
According to information published by the Congressional Budget Office on May 17, 2024 non-automatic transfers were down 89.5% compared to the same period last year.
During his intervention Cuvertino said that these are not discretionary transfers that are the power of the Executive but rather non-compliance with current regulations and timely signed agreements that impact the quality of life of those who live in the interior of the country.
“An example of this policy is seen in the paralysis of public works. In Sante Fe, 189 works have been surveyed that have been stopped throughout the territory, of which 13 are in the city of Santa Fe and correspond to housing, water and sanitation plans. They are basic rights that make up the life of each one of us,” he indicated.
The deputy also mentioned the crisis of pension funds. “So far this year, national fund transfers have fallen 100%. The historical debt of the Nation with Santa Fe is 700 billion, with an accumulated deficit between January and May of 92 billion,” he added.
Discretion and inequality with the interior
Cuvertino explained that the Congress report takes budget execution based on the accrual criterion, which means that many transfers that are counted as carried out are pending the sending of resources. “An example is the National Teacher Incentive Fund (FONID), which appears as accrued but has not yet reached a single peso in the province of Santa Fe, is a fund that contributed approximately 8.5% of the teacher’s salary.”.
The deputy concluded by highlighting two issues. On the one hand, the national state is indebted to Santa Fe, failing to fulfill assumed commitments. “While celebrating a supposed fiscal surplus, some numbers are hidden,” he said. “Making a parallel with a family, it is as if in a home the credit card is not paid. At some point those bills arrive and we are going to have to pay them, and in Argentina we know what that situation means.”
Secondly, he questioned the discretion in the decisions of the central power to the detriment of subnational governments. “Many times we sought to discipline behavior, generating great inequality depending on where we live throughout the national territory. Escid:18fb10f7815c9a51d9c1 a policy that did not start on December 10, 2023, extends almost as long as the history we have as a nation and the province of Santa Fe can bear witness to what has happened in the last 20 years. What we notice is that it has deepened in recent months.”
“Faced with a government that enables inequitable distribution and that privileges the AMBA, we can only support our governor who a few days ago, faced with the decision to increase funds only to the UBA and do the same with transportation subsidies, He stated that we are facing a unitary, centralist and Buenos Aires-centric government. In these situations, it is important to defend the interests of Santa Fe and the people of Santa Fe,” he concluded.
