Governor signs ‘first balanced budget certified by the Fiscal Board’

Gov. Jenniffer González Colón said the presentation and signing of “the first balanced budget” represents “the crucial step for us to regain control of our finances.”

By The Star Staff

Gov. Jenniffer González Colón on Wednesday signed ‘the first balanced budget certified by the Fiscal Board’ since the entity created under the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA) began operations in Puerto Rico in 2016.

“Puerto Rico presents the first balanced budget, the main requirement for the elimination of the [Financial Oversight and Management] Board,” González Colón said at a press conference. “This achievement by our administration is the crucial step for us to regain control of our finances.”

The certification of the budget represents a key step toward Puerto Rico’s eventual exit from fiscal control imposed by Congress.

The budget was approved by the island Senate and House of Representatives. Present at the signing were Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz, House Speaker Carlos “Johnny” Méndez Nuñez and the chairs of the finance committees in their respective chambers, Sen. Migdalia Padilla Alvelo and Rep. Eddie Charbonier Chinea. Also participating were La Fortaleza Chief of Staff Francisco Domenech, Treasury Secretary Ángel Pantoja Rodríguez, and Office of Management and Budget Director Orlando Rivera Berríos.

The general budget amounts to $13.095 million, while the consolidated budget totals $32.609 million, including special state and federal funds. It includes increases in education, health, security, payment of pensions, police overtime pay, municipal services and modernization of the government.

The governor stressed that the budget meets the requirements of the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act, commonly known as PROMESA, as well as the commitments of the government program, and demonstrates the fiscal health of the island.

“This budget puts us in a position to stand on our feet and be able to continue improving the condition of our treasury,” González Colón said.

The governor noted that the new budget includes an additional $34 million for care subsidies for seniors and people with disabilities, bringing the total allocation to $120 million. An additional $8.6 million was also allocated for child shelter services, for a total of $48.6 million.

Similarly, the budget includes $5.7 million to recruit 100 social workers and 100 social work technicians. In addition, $15 million was allocated for a local childcare voucher program aimed at working-class, middle-class families.

Another $19.6 million was allocated to recruit 800 Puerto Rico Police cadets, $3.7 million to hire civilians to replace police officers in administrative tasks, and $91 million to hire social workers to handle cases alongside the police.

González Colón also announced a $2.6 million allocation to build interview rooms for victims of domestic violence.