The Córdoba judiciary ordered a 33% garnishment on Cosquín's revenue sharing due to a historic legal dispute. Judge Miguel Ángel Martínez Conti ordered the retention of 160 million pesos per month from the funds sent by the Province. This measure puts local finances in jeopardy and threatens to paralyze the city's basic services.
Mayor Raúl Cardinali described the ruling as "completely confiscatory" for the municipal coffers. He warned that the removal of resources jeopardizes the future of residents for the next twenty years. The current administration faces a critical scenario to sustain the health system and waste collection.
The municipality usually receives about 500 million pesos to cover its operating and current expenses. With this judicial cut, the administration loses a third of its liquidity in a challenging economic context. Cardinali stated that, if the measure goes forward, they would have to "hand over the keys" to the plaintiffs and the judge.
Origin of a million-dollar and external debt
The financial conflict dates back to 2001 due to an action taken during former mayor Bustos's administration. The municipality acted as guarantor for employee loans, deducting the installments but not transferring them to the financial institution. Those withheld funds never reached their destination, generating a liability that grew exponentially due to interest.
