The mayor of the municipality of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Jhonny Fernández, denied that the Mayor’s Office had closed the last administration with a deficit financial of Bs. 1,076 million as denounced by the Municipal Council and asked the councilors to “stop walking around” to dedicate themselves to work.
“There is a terrible financial crisis in the Municipal Autonomous Government, we are practically in touch. The entity spent more than it earned and the payments will affect the 2025 budget,” said Silvana Mucarzel, president of the Municipal Council, during a session.
Fernández questioned Mucarzel’s statement by pointing out that does not know the reality of the municipal Executive because all the councilors were on vacation for 25 days.
“They are a little lost because on December 20 they went on vacation and returned on the 15th (January), They haven’t worked for 25 days. They don’t even know what has happened in these 25 days andn the Executive because they were on vacation. “How are they going to give him 25 days of vacation and earn salaries?” he indicated.
The mayor flatly rejected the existence of a financial deficit of Bs. 1,076 million in the Santa Cruz Mayor’s Office and explained that there was a decrease in income in the last administration which caused delays in paying basic services in educational units.
“Which there has been less income last year and we do not know what will happen this year due to the economic crisis in all the mayors, governorates and the National Government. IDH’s income has fallen. The crisis affects us all, but venturing to launch things like this, I think it is due to lack of knowledge, secondly because (the councilors) were on vacation and were out for a walk,” commented the mayor.
Besides, He downplayed Mucarzel’s request for an audit about the economic administration of the Mayor’s Office and assured that he will respond to all requests as he has been doing to date.
“I can fill a three by three (meter) room with pure request, that was my answer that I gave you. Everywhere I always respond, Parliament asks me for a report, the Comptroller’s Office asks me for reports, the institutions ask me for reports and I have to give them,” he assured.
