House speaker seeks funding for mayors to avoid towns’ fiscal cliff

Mayors Federation President and Camuy Mayor Gabriel Hernández Rodríguez

By The Star Staff

House Speaker Carlos “Johnny” Méndez Nuñez held a summit meeting Thursday with the presidents of the Federation and Association of Mayors, Gabriel “Gaby” Hernández Rodríguez and Jorge “Georgie” González Otero, respectively, to find ways to avoid the municipalities’ financial cliff.

The purpose was to address a crucial aspect of the new 2025-2026 budget focused on preventing municipal closures.

“Saving municipalities is one of our top priorities in the House of Representatives,” Méndez stated at a press conference with House Finance Committee Chairman Eddie Charbonier Chinea and Majority Leader José “Pichy” Torres Zamora. “Tomorrow, we will meet with the presidents of the Federation and Association of Mayors, as well as the chairman of the Finance Committee, to identify a budget item that supports the finances of municipalities facing fiscal crises.”

The House speaker emphasized that the funding they aim to identify and allocate is not intended to be a financial bailout. Instead, it will complement the $35 million aid package announced by Gov. Jenniffer González Colón two weeks ago.

The situation is critical for between 11 and 15 municipalities, which have already stated that they lack the financial resources to meet payroll obligations for their employees by June 30.

Regarding the summit, Hernández Rodríguez, who is the mayor of Camuy, viewed the initiative positively and stressed the importance of legislative support from the House and Senate to prevent some municipalities from becoming insolvent.

González Otero, the mayor of Jayuya, reiterated the significance of such initiatives as they work together to find solutions to the funding cuts that threaten the financial stability of municipalities and the essential services provided to the public.