A few days before the deadline for approving the 2024-2026 budget estimates expires, too many Sicilian local authorities have still not fulfilled this important obligation. According to data updated to May 6, only 143 administrations out of 409, equal to 35% of the total, have in fact approved the financial planning document.
The regional department of local authorities, concerned about the delay of many entities, sent a note to non-compliant municipalities, free consortia and metropolitan cities inviting them to approve the budgets within the established deadlines.
For entities that have already approved the budget, the department recommends “verifying the outcome of the document transmission procedure by consulting the list available on the institutional website” of the Region.
With regard to the appointments of auditors, we would like to remind you that with the approval of the local authorities bill, the draw for the office of president was abolished. The choice of the president will therefore take place with criteria of greater professionalism and competence. The regional department of local governments has already started the procedure for new appointments and it is expected that the appointment decrees will be published shortly.
The department underlines the importance of the budget forecast for local authorities, defining it as “the instrument through which the authority plans the activities and services to offer citizens over the three-year period”. The approval of the budget is therefore “an essential condition for authorizing expenditure”. The department also specified that for the bodies that have not approved the budget within the established deadlines, “the procedure for appointing commissioners is already at a very advanced stage and the replacement intervention by the Region is imminent”.
The regional department of local authorities once again invites all Sicilian local authorities to comply with legal obligations and to approve the 2024-2026 budget estimates within the established deadlines. Respecting deadlines and the correct management of public resources are fundamental to guarantee an efficient and transparent administration at the service of citizens.
