Mayors Federation denounces drastic cuts to financially ailing towns

Puerto Rico Mayors Federation President Gabriel Hernández Rodríguez, at lectern, insisted that the Financial Oversight and Management Board is wrong to continue slashing funding for municipalities, especially after progress has been evident across some government agencies and the board previously agreed to allocate certain funds.

By The Star Staff

Puerto Rico Mayors Federation President Gabriel Hernández Rodríguez on Sunday firmly denounced the budget presented by the Financial Oversight and Management Board for the upcoming fiscal year for including drastic cuts to municipalities that are already in financial distress.

During a press conference, Hernández, who is also the mayor of Camuy, insisted that the oversight board is wrong to continue slashing funding for municipalities, especially after progress has been evident across some agencies and the board previously agreed to allocate certain funds. The Mayors Federation is composed of mayors from the New Progressive Party.

“Today, we demand the immediate distribution of the remaining $1.1 million from the Essential Services Fund, which had an overall allocation of $30 million. Municipalities such as Yauco, Ceiba, Vega Baja, Guánica, Camuy and Jayuya have submitted their requests and deserve prompt attention” the mayor asserted. “Additionally, we expect an update on the status of undisbursed allocations, including $35 million for municipal initiatives, $49.5 million for Hurricane Fiona recovery projects, and $3 million set aside for the Planning Board’s land use plans. With only 43 days left in this fiscal year, inaction is unacceptable and we have yet to receive responses to our communications.”

Hernández was joined at the press conference by the mayors of Orocovis, Jesús Colón Berlingeri; Villalba, Dan Santiago; Cidra, Delvis Pagán Clavijo; and Karina Nieves Serrano of Aguas Buenas, all united in their strong condemnation of the $151.8 million cut to municipalities proposed in the latest budget presented to the Legislative Assembly.

“This decision was made without addressing our serious concerns or those of the Mayors Association,” Hernández said. “The [oversight board] must engage in meaningful dialogue with the mayors and heed our concerns, ideas, and proposals. Over the last four years, we successfully negotiated an unprecedented allocation of $212.6 million for municipal governments, facilitated by the leadership of Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz. We have consistently demonstrated that municipalities meet the oversight requirements and expectations.”

Noting that the Mayors Federation “is prepared to engage in dialogue, and we won’t back down,” Hernández added: “We will not allow these hard-won achievements to be undermined, nor will we tolerate the exclusion of mayors from the budget process. This is wholly unacceptable.”

He said he will formally communicate to the legislative leaders and the oversight board the minimum funding necessary for municipalities to operate effectively in the next fiscal year.

“The fiscal challenges facing municipalities are well known and critical,” Hernández said. “If we don’t act responsibly now, our situation will deteriorate further. Municipal governments serve as the first line of response in any emergency. We demand respect, urgent dialogue, and immediate action.”