PDP legislators: 11.5% tax on solar panels wasn’t sought by fiscal board

“Jenniffer González’s administration must provide the country and the Legislature with complete and detailed information on where they will generate the funds for the tax relief,” said Rep. Héctor Ferrer Santiago, second from left, the Popular Democratic Party Minority Leader in the island House of Representatives.

By THE STAR STAFF

Popular Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers said Thursday that the 11.5% tax on solar panels and equipment was not a request from the Financial Oversight and Management Board, but rather a proposal from the administration of Gov. Jenniffer González Colón.

“We confirm to the country that our position is that a proper tax reform should be implemented, one that lowers taxes for the working class, without new taxes,” Sen. Luis Javier Hernández Ortiz said in a written statement.

Hernández Ortiz, the PDP minority leader in the Senate, and Héctor Ferrer Santiago, his counterpart in the House of Representatives, met with the oversight board’s executive director, Robert Mujica, to discuss the tax changes announced by the governor and which are currently under legislative review.

Also participating in the meeting were the alternate minority leaders Sen. Marially González Huertas and Rep. Domingo Torres. According to reports, the process is in its initial stages, so there is still room to make adjustments that will benefit taxpayers.

“The Board will approve the proposed tax changes if they meet the established parameters,” Ferrer Santiago said. “The goal is a neutral impact, which is a requirement of the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA). In order to evaluate it, we need information from the government, which has not yet been provided.”

He added that there is currently no certainty regarding the numbers presented and that the Legislative Assembly will evaluate the bill in its entirety.

“Jenniffer González’s administration must provide the country and the Legislature with complete and detailed information on where they will generate the funds for the tax relief,” the PDP leader in the House said.