Local authorities "that cannot meet the payments of debts" accrued "as at 31 December 2012 due to lack of liquidity they can apply to Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, by 30 April 2013, the advance of liquidity to be used for paymentsthe". It is one of the novelties contained in the draft of the decree on the payment of public administration debts anticipated by Tmnews.
The text will arrive tomorrow at the Council of Ministers, which will meet at 10. The go-ahead was expected three days ago, but the Government had then decided for the postponement.
In previous versions, local authorities could apply to the Ministry of the Interior by 31 May. The decree establishes the modalities of both the advance and the repayment by the entities.
In any case, the draft decree still provides that the Ministry of Economy creates a "Background to ensure the liquidity of the payments of certain liquid and collectable debts". The budget for this instrument will be two billion a year for 2013 and 2014.
As for the financial constraints for local authorities (spending commitments and investment loans), they jump from the latest version of the decree, but they are foreseen ex post sanctions in the case of requested and unused liquidity. Control is entrusted to the Court of Auditors on the recommendation of the State General Accounting Office.
The sanctions will be equal to "two months' salary net of tax and social security charges for the managers of the services concerned".
