House speaker, mayors discuss budget needs for FY 2027

House Speaker Carlos “Johnny” Méndez Nuñez, center, met with Mayors Federation President Gabriel Hernández Rodríguez and the mayors of Aguas Buenas and Las Piedras regarding the island government’s budget for the coming fiscal year and the mayors’ needs and projections.

By THE STAR STAFF

Speaker of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives Carlos “Johnny” Méndez Nuñez held a meeting earlier this week with Mayors Federation President Gabriel Hernández Rodríguez, as well as the mayors of Aguas Buenas and Las Piedras, Karina Nieves Serrano and Miguel López Rivera, respectively, regarding the government’s budget for the fiscal year 2026-2027 (FY 2027) and their needs and projections.

The consolidated budget resolution for FY 2027 is $33.57 billion, including $13.18 billion from the General Fund. In her announcement of the measure, Gov. Jenniffer González Colón also indicated that the resolution is some $312 million below the revenue projections outlined in the Certified Fiscal Plan.

Méndez said he and the mayors “discussed specific allocations for various projects, such as potential salary increases for the municipal police and funding for various plans, among other topics.”

“We want to make it clear in the budget, for example, that the money for paramedics is for those who work in the municipalities, whether they have a third shift or provide assistance services to the public,” the House leader said. “We will also clarify other issues to make them more specific. We also discussed the arguments regarding a gap of approximately $19 million compared to 2026. We will study that, among other matters.”

The current FY 2026 budget was the first to be developed, approved and certified in accordance with the Financial Oversight and Management Board’s guidelines.

The Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act, better known as PROMESA, requires that four certified and continuous budgets be approved by the board, among other actions.

Méndez, who has already been meeting with mayors, agency heads and directors of public corporations, announced Monday that he will be convening further meetings with more mayors and technical staff, as well as other meetings with members of the oversight board, with the aim of achieving the second budget approved by the federal entity, one that satisfies the budgetary needs of citizens.