The State waters the communities with "historic" resources in 2027

MadridOne of the consequences of not having held the Fiscal and Financial Policy Council (CPFF) this Wednesday is that the Ministry of Finance has communicated by letter to the autonomous communities that are part of the common regime (all except the two regional ones, Navarre and the Basque Country) the resources they will have next year. Although it is not the first time it has happened, it was customary for the head of the Treasury and regional councilors to meet in July to know the resources they would have the following year to prepare their budgets. Therefore, to know the so-called advance payments or down payments. At the same time, liquidity was also reported.

Facing 2027, the autonomous communities will receive a record 170.529 billion euros in advance payments, an 8.1% increase compared to 2026. "The biggest down payments in history", highlight from the Treasury. To the financial resources announced, we must add the positive settlement of 2025, which means that the State foresaw less collection from the communities than actually happened. This settlement will be 15,064 million euros.

Therefore, the communities will receive a total of 185.593 billion euros, 9.1% more than in 2026. Catalonia will receive 32.649 billion euros in advance payments, 8% more than this year and also a "historic" figure. And if the 2025 settlement is added, the figure for resources planned for next year will be 35.560 billion euros.

Advance payments or retainers are resources that the State transfers in advance to autonomous communities and city councils depending on the forecast of tax collection by administrations. They represent the bulk of the resources that territories have to prepare their budgets and cover basic services (education, health or public services) and are updated each year according to forecasts of economic growth, but especially of tax revenues, which have performed well in recent years. Once approved in the Council of Ministers, advance payments must be voted on in Congress.

More resources with the new model

From the ministry led by Arcadi España they affirm that resources could be "even higher" for 2028 if the new model of regional financing is approved. In fact, it was scheduled to be voted on at this Wednesday's CPFF. The conclave, however, was postponed to September at the request of the PP communities, who asked for more time to study it, even though they reject it outright. The Treasury recalls that the historic forgiveness of regional debt, amounting to 83,252 million euros, is also being processed in parliament.