The Banco Nación branch in Río Cuarto stopped paying a municipal fee it considers inapplicable, generating an unexpected clash with local authorities. The municipality, far from reviewing the charge, replied with a formal complaint before the courts, opening a conflict that could set a precedent.
Instead of reviewing the use of resources or improving spending efficiency, Peronist Guillermo De Rivas's administration chose the judicial route. This is a predictable reaction from a policy addicted to cash flow, lacking any willingness for adjustment, transparency, or self-criticism.
The end of "anything goes" fiscal policy in municipalities?
Banco Nación's argument has merit: there can be no tax without service. The fee claimed by the Río Cuarto municipality appears as yet another hidden cost, a widespread practice among local governments seeking to offset their deficits with abusive forms of revenue collection.
Meanwhile, political fear quickly emerged. Some sectors of the provincial government raised the alarm about a "domino effect." If Nación manages to have this fee declared illegitimate, other entities could follow suit.
