The FMRM is asking the CARM for a Regional Financing Law for municipalities that regulates their financial allocation
The president of the Federation of Municipalities has stated that “without funding there is no local autonomy” and that local councils “bear the brunt of the costs associated with responsibilities that do not fall within their jurisdiction.”
The FMRM proposes the creation of a Network of Sustainable Municipalities that serves as a space for the exchange of good practices and provides technical support to local councils.
The Federation has approved a resolution for the inclusion of social clauses in local government contracts and is working on signing an agreement against energy poverty with energy supply companies.
The Federation of Municipalities of the Region of Murcia held its Ordinary General Assembly addressing one of the main demands of this municipal body: the request to the Executive of the Autonomous Community for a Law on Financing of Local Governments that definitively regulates the participation of the municipalities in the income of the CARM and that guarantees the autonomy of local administrations to decide and manage.
The FMRM holds its Assembly in Caravaca de la Cruz. July 2017
This was the message conveyed by the president of the FMRM (Federation of Municipalities of the Region of Murcia), Joaquín Hernández, during his address to the Regional Minister of Finance and Public Administration, Andrés Carrillo, who shared the event with the mayors of the Region, accompanied by the Director General of Local Administration, Manuel Durán, in the Plenary Hall of the Caravaca de la Cruz City Hall. “Municipalities need budgetary stability to address and provide the services we undertake from our local councils, which is why we will not stop working until a law on municipal financing with a fair and equitable distribution is approved, as is already the case in other regions. There is no real local autonomy without powers and funding,” he emphasized.
This work has been underway since the end of 2016 through the Inter-institutional Commission, created in conjunction with the Regional Government, which aims to clarify the responsibilities of local entities and their funding. “Municipalities are willing to assume responsibilities, as we are the closest level of government and the one that best understands citizens' needs, but always with funding that allows us to provide these services with guaranteed quality. We have many delegated responsibilities, but in most cases, we don't receive the necessary allocation to fulfill them, which means the greatest burden falls on us. We bear the majority of the costs associated with responsibilities that don't fall within our jurisdiction,” the president explained.
She also emphasized that a significant effort has been made this year to ensure that local councils have the weight they deserve in the day-to-day political activity and decision-making in the Region of Murcia, since “being close to the citizens legitimizes us to be an important part of the future shaping of our Region.” To this end, significant collaboration and coordination have been established with the Autonomous Community and the Regional Assembly to work for the citizens of the Region of Murcia, while also maintaining a proactive role in advocating for and denouncing injustices, safeguarding their interests.
The Federation's president also highlighted some of the main lines of work maintained throughout the year, such as the resumption of FMRM training activities with a total of 35 courses and workshops that have allowed more than 870 local workers to access training programs. Furthermore, the General Local Administration Committee has been created, together with the major unions, to work collaboratively towards improving public employment, establishing a minimum framework agreement to regulate labor relations in municipalities, and defending the quality of public services provided by local councils.
The social factor has been one of the FMRM's main concerns. Thus, regarding energy poverty, steps have been taken to sign a framework agreement with the electricity, water, and sewage companies in our Region and the Autonomous Community to prevent the suspension of energy service to any family in our Region. Likewise, an agreement has been reached with the Ministry of Family Affairs, which will allocate one million euros to offset the cost of social services related to this issue in local councils.
Along these same lines, the Federation of Municipalities has worked closely with the Third Sector to become a leading voice and driving force in ensuring that public administrations comply with social clauses. To this end, a resolution has been passed urging local councils to include these clauses in their contracts and to create a technical committee to advise them on how to incorporate them and draft the tender specifications.
In economic matters, the FMRM is working on a draft ordinance that, in accordance with the Law Regulating Local Finances and jurisprudence, would allow municipalities to levy a fee for the use and exploitation of local public land in rural areas by companies that transport utilities such as electricity, gas, water, or hydrocarbons. Furthermore, the Regional Government of Murcia (CARM) has committed to assuming responsibility for Firefighting and Rescue services in the Region within two years, covering 50% of the budget in municipalities with fewer than 20.000 inhabitants and 100% in those with fewer than 5.000 inhabitants.
Among the projects launched by the Federation of Municipalities of the Region of Murcia is the creation of a Network of Sustainable Municipalities that will give visibility to those populations that are committed to sustainable development, offering technical support to local governments and serving as a reference for the creation of legislative initiatives that promote sustainable development.
During this year, the FMRM has signed numerous agreements, such as the one signed with the Faculty of Economics of the University of Murcia for economic advice to the municipalities, as this is one of the main needs identified; the one signed with UNICEF to promote work in the 45 municipalities of the Region to become Child Friendly Cities; the one signed with the College of Civil Engineers for the training of municipal technicians; or the one approved in the General Assembly with the College of Pharmacists to enable the acquisition of medicines in any pharmacy for users of Social Services.
This morning, the FMRM (Federation of Friends of the Region of Murcia) moved its General Assembly to Caravaca de la Cruz to express its support for "the magnificent celebration of the Jubilee Year in this municipality and the work being done by the City Council," and also "to continue with the goal, set a year ago, of bringing the institution closer to all municipalities, opening it up, making it more accessible and participatory," as the president emphasized. We have already moved several activities and events to other locations and venues throughout the Region.
Hernández also took the opportunity to welcome the new mayors who have joined in recent weeks: Ester Hortelano, Blanca; Fulgencio Gil, Lorca; Pedro Noguera, Pliego; Jesús Amo, Moratalla; Ana Belén Castejón, Cartagena and Andrés García, Totana; and to highlight and thank those who are leaving their posts.
