Massimo Di Fazio donates eight years of mayoral salary to Triora

Massimo Di Fazio, the mayor of Triora, an Italian mountain town in the province of Imperia, has refused his salary for eight years to support the municipal budget. Since his first election in 2018, Di Fazio has donated approximately 160,000 euros to the town, which has a population of about 390 residents.

Di Fazio, a construction entrepreneur, stated that governing is an “act of pure service and love for one’s own land.” He believes the funds allocated for his position are better utilized for local maintenance and repairs.

While his original renunciation covered a monthly gross salary of approximately 1,659 euros, a recent increase in mayoral indemnities in 2024 created a legal ambiguity. Di Fazio sought permission from the Court of Auditors to receive the additional 500 euro monthly allowance only to transfer it back to the municipality, but the request was denied. Despite limited staff and a technical office that operates only 12 hours a week, Di Fazio continues his second mandate, which he secured in 2023.