September 13, 2024, 12:37 PM
September 13, 2024, 12:37 PM
The mayors of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Johnny Fernandezand from El Alto, Eva Copa, They presented a joint document to the national government on Friday, in which they demand a redistribution of resources following the results of the 2024 Census. According to both, the data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE) do not reflect real population growth and critically affect municipal revenues.
“The proposal submitted seeks formulas to compensate for the reduction in the budget. In Santa Cruz, we have gone through from 380 million bolivianos in 2021 to only 150 million by 2025. “With this, it is impossible to cover the bonuses and the powers that have been transferred to us,” explained Fernández.
Among the expenses mentioned are: the payment of the Renta Dignidad, health insurance, bonuses for people with different abilities and school breakfast. These obligations, according to the mayors, are suffocating the municipal coffers, while resources from the Direct Tax on Hydrocarbons (IDH) have fallen dramatically.
Eva Copa also expressed her concern: “We have to pay around 15 million bolivianos just for the Renta Dignidad, not counting the rest of the competitions. We are asking for a balance in resources between the central government and the municipalities in order to comply with these obligations.”
Both municipalities consider that the bonds and social programs, designed by the central government, should be supported by the State and not by local governments. In this sense, Copa and Fernández urge national authorities to review the income structure and redistribute resources.
The joint proposal also raises the need to correct census data to reflect real population growth and thus avoid budget cuts.
“We are not looking for conflict, but we need a solution. We are considering inviting other mayors from cities like Cochabamba and La Paz to work together,” Copa said.
