The Fiscal Control Board (JCF) announced this Friday the certification of the government budget for fiscal year 2023-2024, which begins on Saturday, July 1 and amounts to $12,739 million.
Governor Pedro Pierluisi revealed that he directly meets the needs of the municipalities, increases the allocations to:
- The University of Puerto Rico (UPR)
- Public Service Reform
- Judicial Branch Classification Plan
- Improvements to the Police Retirement System
- Increases to the personnel of the educational system
“I am pleased to recognize that the budget that will take effect tomorrow largely reflects the programmatic priorities of the Government and the people of Puerto Rico. Although as expected we did not agree 100 percent on everything, more than 95 percent of the budget reflects consensus between the Government and the Oversight Board”said Pierluisi during the public meeting of the JCF in which the Debt Adjustment Plan of the Electric Power Authority (PREPA) was also addressed.
Look what they do to charge more than Governor Pedro Pierluisi.
During his address, the chief executive highlighted that this new budget meets the needs of municipalities, providing them with access to over $239 million, including the new Fund for Essential Services. Also, it reflects an increase in the contribution of the Central Government in the allocations to the UPR that amounts to over $600 million. In addition, it includes $95 million to continue the Public Service Reform, $37 million for the classification and compensation plan of the Judicial Branch, and $73 million to continue improving retirement benefits for police officers.
Likewise, it has $86 million for increases to teachers and educational personnel, $30 million to guarantee the salaries of PREPA employees who moved to the central government, and $2.7 million to hire social workers.
Similarly, it provides million-dollar allocations for service initiatives for the elderly, funds for modern equipment for the Department of Health, Public Safety (DSP), for the Comprehensive Cancer Center, Caño Martín Peña, for the construction of the new terminal of maritime transportation in Ceiba and to assist non-profit institutions that support the government with their community services.
