The autonomous communities will receive next year more money and resources than ever to face the economic crisis. There is extra money to face a year that the forecasts are darkening a little more and more. It is record financing that can be allowed thanks to the fact that the collection is triggered by economic growth and inflation. In this way, the autonomous communities will receive a total of 134,336 million euros from the regional financing system, that is, 24% more than in the current year. They represent an extra 26,130 million.
An irrigation of resources from which Catalonia also benefits in a notable way, which in 2023 will increase the financing it received from the State for this year by 3,100 million. According to the calculations of the Generalitat, Catalonia will have a total of 26,560 million euros, an amount that includes absolutely everything. From the settlements corresponding to 2021 to the advances for 2023, in addition to the 0.3% deficit margin and other additional income such as those established by the third additional provision, and those destined for the Mossos d'Esquadra.
At first, the Generalitat had calculated that it would receive 2,240 million more than this year, but with the details of the figures, it has raised the increase to 3,100 million. "These millions will help us to face the expenses that we will have both at the social level and mainly in public health and education," said the Minister of Economy, Jaume Giró, when leaving the meeting.
One of the elements that allows greater margin to the Catalan accounts is the increase from 0.1% to 0.3% of the deficit target of all the autonomies. The two tenths of the difference is assumed by the State since the limit of 3.9% is maintained for all public administrations. This flexibility in the spending of two additional tenths was agreed between the Treasury and the Generalitat, and later, extended to the rest of the autonomous communities.
These figures are the distribution that was formalized yesterday in a Fiscal and Financial Policy Council (CPFF) more peaceful than usual. It is assumed because it was about distributing additional resources, which is always easier, although the peace of mind is never complete. Some popular autonomies criticized collateral aspects, such as the Madrid councilor, Javier Fernández-Lasquetty, who considers the spending ceiling that the Government presented on Tuesday irresponsible, "without making the slightest saving gesture", or the Andalusian councilor, Carolina España, who called for the reform of the financing system. Reform always urgent but also always postponed.
They are darts to which the Minister of Finance, María Jesús Montero, responded indirectly, when she said that "inflation is not fought from fiscal populism, but with effective measures."
From here, Montero exposed his numbers. This increase of 24% on the financing granted this year, which is a record. An increase that is possible because deliveries on account, which are made according to collection forecasts, increase by 11% to 124,292 million, and positive settlements for 2021 reach 10,981 million. According to Montero, all thanks "to the prudent forecasts of the Government and the measures to reinforce growth".
