Snail payments, small and medium-sized businesses suffer the most
In Viterbo, the institution is 19 days late in paying suppliers, in Civita Castellana 153
01/07/2024 – 07:49
by Alessandra Sorge
VITERBO – On average, nineteen days pass from the due date of invoices before the municipality of Viterbo pays its suppliers. This is revealed by the latest study by Cgia di Mestre on the 2023 data, extrapolated directly from the ‘transparent administration’ section of the various provincial capital municipalities
Compared to the cases in which the delays can be defined as ‘biblical’ to say the least, see Naples black jersey with 143 days, that of Viterbo is a situation which overall does not present levels of marked criticality. Of the ‘good but not great’ series, if you consider that the majority of companies suffering from these delays are small and medium-sized enterprises, less structured and more economically exposed.
In the rest of Tuscia, however, the situation is patchy. Analyzing the top ten of the most populous municipalities, we find Civita Castellana and Nepi which, at the end of the thirty days required by law, pay their invoices 153 days late. Less worse in Orte (+34) and Montalto (+21). Among the most virtuous municipalities we find Tarquinia, which pays on average 19 days in advance, Tuscania (12 days), Montefiascone (-11 days) and Vetralla (-5)
At the national level, between purchases, consumption, supplies, maintenance, staff training and energy costs, in 2023 the Italian State sustained a total cost of 122 billion euros. The commercial debts of our public administration amount to approximately 50 billion euros.
As the Court of Auditors has highlighted in one of its latest reports, in commercial transactions with private companies our public administration seems to be adopting the practice of paying invoices of a higher amount within the legal deadlines, thus maintaining the Payment Timeliness Indicator (ITP) within the limits set by law, but intentionally delays the payment of those with lower amounts, thus penalizing companies that supply goods and services with low volumes, i.e. small businesses.
