Anafre proposes 10% funding increase for Azores parishes

The Azores delegation of the National Association of Parishes (Anafre) is calling for a revision of the Local Finance Law to better address the specific needs of autonomous regions. During the XI Regional Meeting of Parish Mayors in Velas, São Jorge, Anafre representatives argued that the realities of insularity, geographic dispersion, and distance from mainland Portugal necessitate a differentiated financing model for local authorities in the Azores and Madeira.

Key proposals include a 10% increase in the Parish Financing Fund (FFF) allocated to the Azores. The association also suggests a gradual increase of the FFF from 2.5% to 5% over the next four years and seeks specific access to the Azores 2030 resources.

Additionally, Anafre is advocating for changes to the legal debt limit for parishes, proposing it be set at 50% of the annual FFF allocation, and requesting extended repayment terms for loans to last until the end of each mandate. Coordinator Manuel António Soares emphasized that these measures are based on principles of subsidiarity, financial sufficiency, and equity to support smaller territorial or population-based parishes.