The Provincial Council approves 2.3 million against depopulation for 91 municipalities

The Provincial Council of Castellón has approved the allocation of 2,349,551 euros from the Municipal Cooperation Fund to combat depopulation in the municipalities of the Valencian Community for the 2026 fiscal year, an amount that will be distributed among 91 town councils in the province. The agreement was unanimously adopted by the Plenary, in an ordinary session on September 22, 2026, and is published in the Official Gazette of the Province of Castellón no. 116, dated September 26, 2026, under reference 04188-2026-U. The regulation comes into force the day after its publication.

The framework: a specific line of the Municipal Cooperation Fund

The line against depopulation is supported by Article 64.3 of the Statute of Autonomy of the Valencian Community and by Law 5/2021, of November 5, regulating the Municipal Cooperation Fund, which enables the Consell to create specific lines by decree. The development came with Decree 120/2024, of September 24, which regulates this line and allows the provincial councils of Castellón, Valencia, and Alicante to participate with monetary contributions in the municipalities of their province that meet the requirements.

The Provincial Council of Castellón adhered to the fund by agreement of the Plenary on September 28, 2021. The amount is set in accordance with Article 5 of Decree 120/2024 and coincides with the amount allocated by the Generalitat Valenciana to the municipalities of the province in the Resolution of July 31, 2026, using the same distribution criteria.

2.3 million for 91 municipalities

The distribution is detailed municipality by municipality in the published announcement. The amounts range from 15,000 euros for town councils with the minimum allocation to 60,000 euros for the two municipalities with the highest amount:

• Morella: 60,000 €
• Vilafranca/Villafranca del Cid: 60,000 €
• Coves de Vinromà, les: 55,745 €
• Llucena/Lucena del Cid: 49,962 €
• Albocàsser: 48,983 €
• Traiguera: 47,678 €
• Atzeneta del Maestrat: 47,332 €
• Benassal: 42,801 €
• Sierra Engarcerán: 42,628 €
• Useres, les/Useras: 40,820 €
• Figueroles, San Rafael del Río, and Sot de Ferrer: 15,000 € each

The complete list covers 91 entities, from Aín (19,086 €) to Zucaina (20,253 €), and includes localities such as Castell de Cabres (15,645 €), Geldo (15,322 €), Palanques (16,044 €), or Vallibona (16,935 €).

Requirements, payment, and resources

The agreement authorizes, provides for, and recognizes the expenditure of 2,349,551 euros charged to budget application 94200/4620702 and accounting document RC 12026000047940. The amount initially allocated in the 2026 budget may be modified based on the total distributed by the Generalitat Valenciana.

Payment will be made upon verification that the beneficiary entities have submitted the General Account to the Sindicatura de Comptes de la Comunitat Valenciana. According to the certificate from this body dated July 1, 2026, the 91 city councils of the province had submitted the accounts for the 2020 to 2024 fiscal years.

Against this agreement, which concludes the administrative process, an optional appeal for reversal may be filed within one month, or a contentious-administrative appeal may be filed before the Contentious-Administrative Courts of Castellón within two months, counting from the day following publication. The announcement is signed by the delegated deputy M.ª Ángeles Pallarés Cifre and the chief clerk Montserrat Paricio Comins, in Castellón, on September 24, 2026.

Impact on municipal coffers

The fund injects 2.3 million euros into the rural city councils of Castellón through unconditional and non-earmarked transfers, which may be used to globally finance their activities and services. For municipalities with very small populations, amounts between 15,000 and 60,000 euros represent a stable source of financing to strengthen their financial sufficiency in the face of population loss.

Source: Official Gazette of the Province of Castellón, no. 116, of September 26, 2026, Local Administration, Provincial Council of Castellón (official reference: 04188-2026-U).