Caguas mayor presents $220 million budget

Caguas Mayor William Miranda Torres

By The Star Staff

Caguas Mayor William Miranda Torres presented on Thursday the consolidated municipal budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, which amounts to $220,408,444.

The consolidated budget is funded by $108 million from the General Fund, $61.8 million from special funds, and contains $50.6 million for capital improvements.

The last item will allow for the execution of infrastructure projects, with funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Community Development Block Grant, the mayor noted. They include road projects in the Borinquen, Cañaboncito and Turabo neighborhoods, as well as the initiation of rehabilitation processes for sports facilities and iconic spaces such as Héctor Solá Bezares Coliseum and the William Miranda Marín Botanical and Cultural Garden.

“One of the priorities highlighted in the new budget is the continuity of programs that were initiated with federal ARPA funds,” Miranda Torres said. “These funds have already expired, so we are responsibly assuming the transition of these essential programs, integrating them into the regular budget.”

The mayor added that as part of that effort, the budget includes the creation of 15 new positions distributed in key areas such as the Municipal Department of Public Works, the Department of Community Self-Management, and the Office of City Recovery and Reconstruction.

Caring for the senior population remains a priority, Miranda Torres stressed. The budget allocates $372,000 to continue the Home Care Program for the Elderly and $414,000 for the Long-Term Care Home Program.

Meanwhile, the Movida Criolla psychosocial project, focused on chess as a tool for social transformation, has received a $30,000 grant. The effort will be supported by the Municipal Education Department, the Albizu Clinic and the Department of Recreation and Sports.

“We have also created the Office for Real Estate Control, with an allocation of $700,000,” the mayor noted. “This new office will assume the management, administration, and documentation of municipal properties, including addressing the problem of public nuisances, and will facilitate the development of affordable housing policies for our people.”

Aside from the aforementioned $50.6 million for capital improvements, other significant investments in infrastructure and essential services included in the budget are solid waste collection and recycling ($7 million from the General Fund and $632,000 from Act 53-2021), and maintenance of green areas and landscaping, including municipal and state roads, passive parks and sports facilities ($4.8 million).

On the security front, Miranda Torres reaffirmed his commitment to continue strengthening the citizen security system.

“This year, we will increase the number of virtual surveillance cameras from 127 to 161, which will allow us to strengthen our prevention and response strategies,” he said. “Furthermore, we continue to provide our municipal police with the necessary equipment and technology to effectively protect our citizens.”

The mayor noted that the 2025-26 budget “takes on special significance as it coincides with the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of Caguas.”