Our previous issue examined the new distribution formula for the general operating grant (DGF), which accounts for a large share of the budgets of municipalities and intermunicipal bodies. It was due to be introduced in 2016, before the government postponed it for a year. The article in Tangente 172 highlighted the absurdity of this formula, particularly the centrality grant, calculated within each intermunicipal body in proportion to the fifth power of the population. Was that article responsible? The 2017 Finance Act has buried the measure once and for all! In fact, the absurdity of the calculation initially went unnoticed by officials unable to connect formulas with their consequences. When simulations were finally run—far too late—the reality became clear to everyone… But what a waste of time!