'Mayors are treated like outcasts by the Union'

Valter Lima, from Sergipe 247 - Serving as mayor of Aracaju for just over two years – and likely to enter the race for re-election – João Alves Filho (DEM) stated this Monday (13) that holding such a position has become “an almost impossible mission”. According to him, mayors, in general, are being treated as “marginalized” by the Federal Government, which pockets most of the taxes collected and passes on a very small portion to the municipalities. João's statements were motivated by his participation in the Meeting of Sergipe Mayors for the Federal Pact, which took place this Monday in the capital.

Speaking to 247, the mayor said that "the situation has never been so unfair and devastating" for municipalities as it is now. "Instead of cutting superfluous expenses, the federal government is taking from the mayors, and we are being rendered unviable. The Municipal Participation Fund (FPM), which used to support the cities, is no longer the main source of revenue. The federal government is making a mockery of the SUS (Unified Health System) transfers. Every month we have a hole, a deficit to cover in Health with revenue from other areas," he emphasized.

According to João, although he has already been mayor, governor on three occasions, and Minister of the Interior, managing the Aracaju city hall has been the most difficult undertaking. “I was mayor 40 years ago, governor three times, and minister; all were difficult, but we overcame the challenges. But now, with a small municipality, which we thought would be easier, it's proving impossible to manage because mayors are being treated like outcasts by the federal government,” he criticized.

According to the mayor of the capital, the revision of the Federal Pact, under the rapporteurship of federal deputy André Moura (PSC), could achieve the desired objectives. João revealed that he has been meeting with the PSC parliamentarian to discuss the matter.

“We need a complete review of the federal pact. We cannot be treated as the ugly ducklings of the country. We now have a good opportunity. The rapporteur is from Sergipe, federal deputy André Moura. I have discussed this extensively with André. All mayors, regardless of party affiliation, should support André in this fight,” he emphasized.

As one of his proposals, João argued that the tax should no longer be collected by the producing state, but rather by the state of destination of the traded product. “If São Paulo sells a car to Sergipe, and that car comes to Itabaiana, the tax collected from the sale of that car doesn't stay with Itabaiana or Sergipe, but goes to São Paulo; it's absurd. Simply reversing this would enormously increase the collection of the Municipal Participation Fund (FPM) and the State Sales Tax (ICMS),” he explained.