Merida, Yucatan — Federal budget cuts are “suffocating” cities, said Mayor Renan Barrera Concha.
Merida alone has lost 600 million pesos, or nearly US$30 million, in aid.
The National Association of Mayors, which recently met in Merida, allowed city leaders to commiserate.
“Nationally, the cuts were severe, about 43 billion pesos,” said the mayor. That’s the equivalent to over US$2 billion.
The mayors agree that it is necessary to fight corruption and reduce government spending, but the reality is that the municipalities are the closest and most direct public authority, responsible for most emergency services, he said.
Barrera Concha added that the municipalities are making tremendous efforts to maintain the demands of their respective communities, but budget cuts have seriously affected them. He reiterated that cities are asking President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to reconsider the cutbacks.
Source: Desde el Balcon