No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsBusinessSolís: No cuts to education, security budgets in 2016

Solís: No cuts to education, security budgets in 2016

In his weekly television address to the nation, Costa Rican President Luis Guillermo Solís said there would be no new cuts to public education, security or anti-poverty spending, despite more than $726 million in proposed reductions in his 2016 budget proposal.

The administration’s 2016 budget proposal will be presented in full on Tuesday but Solís previewed some details Sunday night. He said the budget would represent the “smallest [spending] increase in 10 years” — 0.5 percent over the ₡7.9 trillion ($14.5 billion) 2015 budget, the largest ever in Costa Rican history.

Solís said more than 99 percent of the proposed cuts would affect the executive branch. The president also highlighted his administration’s attempts to reign in spending, including a 36 percent decrease in spending on publicity, a 30 percent decrease in spending on international travel, and a 17 percent reduction in consulting expenses.

In his Sunday address, the president reiterated his call to lawmakers to pass his administration’s tax reform bill to help close the country’s budget deficit. The legislature’s governing coalition of National Liberation Party and Social Christian Unity Party members has said that new taxes are not part of their legislative agenda.

The legislature’s inability to enact fiscal reform has been a significant contributor to Costa Rica’s falling sovereign debt rating. Last year, Moody’s Investor Services, Fitch, and Standard & Poor’s downgraded the country’s sovereign debt to junk status.

According to Costa Rican law, the executive branch must present its budget to the Assembly for the coming calendar year every Sept. 1. The legislature has until November 30 to approve the budget.

Despite significant pushback to the Solís administration’s 2015 budget, lawmakers were unable to come to an agreement on cuts and it was passed as proposed. The president would be lucky to see the same result twice.

Trending Now

Scientists Identify New Salamander in Costa Rica’s Highest Peak Ecosystem

Scientists have identified a new salamander species in the remote páramo of Chirripó National Park, highlighting our country's rich biodiversity and the pressing challenges...

Costa Rica Joins US-Led Bid for 2031 Women’s Soccer World Cup

The United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Jamaica have teamed up to bid for hosting the 2031 FIFA Women's World Cup. This marks the...

Venezuela Sloth Rescue Exposes Wildlife Electrocution Crisis

Rescuers in Venezuela recently saved a sloth trapped on electrical lines, a scene that played out on social media and drew attention to a...

What Camera Traps Miss Chasing Jaguars in Costa Rica

Five years ago, I began my journey using camera traps in wildlife monitoring projects in Costa Rica. A few years after that I began...

Melinda Hildebrand Confirmed as US Ambassador to Costa Rica

The United States Senate has approved Melinda "Mindy" Hildebrand as the new ambassador to our country, marking a fresh chapter in bilateral ties between...

Costa Rica Presidential Candidate Eli Feinzaig Recovering

Presidential candidate and Congressman Eli Feinzaig of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) underwent surgery Saturday night to repair a fractured sternum sustained in a...
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica