The Court of Auditors: yes to the increase in the "salaries" of municipal councilors in Sardinia
The regional law has increased (up to doubling) the allowances of the mayors. A cascade could increase the number of tokens. But more work is needed
Salaries increased by law to mayor, deputy mayor and councilors. And, if they work harder, the city councilors will also earn more money, which could even be doubled.
The stamp of legitimacy comes from the Court of Auditors of Sardinia, which answered a question from the Municipality of Quartu.
The dilemma arose from the regional law - approved last March in the wake of the national one that recognized higher emoluments to frontline administrators - which allocated about 10 million euros to cover the increase in the allowances of first citizens and the members of their councils. . Upward revisions that in Sardinia have linked the salaries of mayors of metropolitan cities to that of the president of the region (about 11 thousand euros per month) and determined important increases for those of the capital cities. Then cascading increases for all, even if in percentages gradually reduced with the reduction of the administered population.
And here is the dilemma raised in Quartu: what do you do with the councilors? Their work as administrators is remunerated with tokens for participation in assembly sessions and municipal commissions. The consolidated act of local authorities establishes that in a month they cannot receive more than a quarter of the mayor's allowance. “How much can they earn?” Was the question that interests all the municipalities.
The Court of Auditors has set a stake: the amount of the token is established by decree of the Ministry of the Interior, in agreement with that of the Economy. So the municipalities have no room for maneuver for an upward retouch.
The judges of via Angius, however, add: "For the purposes of calculating the maximum monthly ceiling for municipal councilors , it is therefore impossible not to take into account the redetermination of the mayor's function allowance". So: more sessions, more tokens (with an unchanged sum for each), greater collection. In the municipalities of the metropolitan city, a councilor can reach over 2,500 euros. But he will have to spend his days in commission. However, the accounting judges underline, "the balance of the budget must be safeguarded".
Enrico Fresu
