Anafre [National Association of Parishes] “would like to see included in this State Budget a 0.5% increase in the amount for the Parish Financing Fund, which represents around 11 million euros, to face the costs of salary increases, energy costs and raw materials”, said the president of the association, Jorge Veloso.

During a joint hearing by the parliamentary committees on Budget and Finance and Public Administration, Territorial Planning and Local Power, regarding the proposed State Budget for 2023 (OE2023), the president of ANAFRE said that the budgets of most parishes do not support the current price increase. And that the increases announced for 2023 will continue to consume a “significant part” of the financing fund, and it is “fair” to demand financial compensation from the Government.

Jorge Veloso also defended the payment of the extraordinary expenses that the parishes had in the fight against Covid-19, remembering that this is not included in the OE proposal, “despite everyone recognising the work” of these municipalities in the fight against the pandemic.