Sicily committee backs paid posts for former provinces and centenary funds

Sicily's regional budget committee has approved an amendment that would end the unpaid status of the presidency of the island's former provinces, now styled Liberi consorzi comunali, by introducing indemnities of office for their presidents and councillors. The measure is attached to a corrective budget manoeuvre of about €600 million under examination at the Assemblea regionale siciliana. Ragusa News reported that it was signed by Giorgio Assenza, the Fratelli d'Italia group leader, and carried by a transversal majority. Under the approved text, each president would receive an indemnity equal to that received by the mayor of the provincial capital, and would have to opt for either that payment or the mayoral indemnity of the comune he administers.

Quotidiano di Ragusa reported that the amendment covers the presidents of the six ex Provinces, extends reimbursement of travel expenses to councillors — including those of the three metropolitan cities of Palermo, Catania and Messina — and introduces remuneration for absences and permits. The Partito Democratico voted in favour, while the Movimento 5 Stelle and Controcorrente voted against. The norm must still pass the Aula for definitive approval.

A separate amendment approved in the same committee would assign €2 million from the Sicilian regional government to mark the centenary of the institution of the provinces of Ragusa and Enna, one million for each entity, which Ragusa News and Quotidiano di Ragusa reported is intended “to support the events and manifestations to celebrate the 100th anniversary”. Ragusa News reported that the government gave a favourable opinion, and that the cover would be drawn from reserve and special funds in the regional budget while the committee examined more than 500 additional amendments to the variation.

Neither provision is yet law. Quotidiano di Ragusa reported that the Aula vote is expected the following week, and that only then will the two Liberi consorzi know whether they can count on the sums. Ragusa Oggi, which reported that the indemnity proposal originates from the province of Ragusa, framed its headline monthly figure at close to €10,000; until now, the presidents of the ex Provinces, chosen from among the mayors of the territory, kept the indemnity of their own comune and performed the role without further compensation.