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At the height of the pandemic and economic crisis, the Costa Rican president announced, on a national chain, an economic recovery plan with no clear direction, no assigned leaders and no concrete actions.
In the message broadcast on the night of July 12, President Carlos Alvarado vaguely explained part of the plan to be adopted to overcome the health and economic crisis generated by the spread of covid-19.
With the application of the fiscal rule, by 2020 in Costa Rica the growth of current expenditure in the regular budgets of the entities of the Non-Financial Public Sector will not exceed 4.67%.
From the statement of the Ministry of Finance:
March 25, 2019. The Minister of Finance, Rocío Aguilar, reported today that as a result of the application of the fiscal rule, by 2020 the growth of current expenditure in the regular budgets of entities and bodies that are part of the non-financial public sector may not exceed 4.67%.
Alvarado administration celebrates the approval of the tax reform in Costa Rica by announcing a series of initiatives that include, among other things, a public employment reform Project.
After a year of proceedings in Congress and after having been reviewed by a Constitutional Chamber, the country's Assembly finally approved file 20.580. By endorsing this project, the government intends to strengthen its public finances through changes made to the taxation system.
The 2019 budget approved by the National Assembly includes almost $9 billion for investments and $2.943 million for debt service.
Panamanian authorities informed that the approved project includes an adjustment of 350 million balboas additional to the budget initially budgeted by the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF).
According to a MEF statement, from this total, $8,996 million are for investments, another $11,930 million will be used for the functioning of the State, and $2,943 million for debt service.
The proposal put forward by the Varela administration to the Assembly includes $5.225 billion for investment projects and $2.581 billion for servicing debt.
The Ministry of Economy and Finance reported that "... the proposal includes important public investment works, such as the Panama Metro ($582.8 million), the Fourth Bridge over the Canal ($288.7 million), Roofs of Hope ($163.6 million), Urban Renovation of Colón ($98.4 million), Sanitation of the Bay ($108.2 million), potable water and sewerage projects ($179.1 million), construction of hospitals and polyclinics in Colón, Darién, Veraguas, Chiriquí and Los Santos ($319.5 million), among other things."
Although insufficient, the package of government spending containment measures proposed by the Alvarado administration is a good first step on the way forward to resolving Costa Rica's delicate fiscal situation.
The Minister of Finance, Rocio Aguilar, presented before the Legislative Assembly a plan to contain government spending that includes, among other measures, decreeing "...
At the end of the first quarter of this year, the financial deficit increased to 1.5% of GDP, up from the 1.3% reported in the same period in 2017, accompanied by a slowdown in tax revenues.
According to the Ministry of Finance "...The fiscal results at the end of the first quarter of March show, once again, the need to have a structural reform that allows increasing revenues and slowing down of growth in public spending, an objective sought by the Public Finance Strengthening Project."
President Solís has ordered ministers to suspend all tender processes for vehicles, equipment and supplies, rental of buildings and consultancies that have not yet started.
In the case of contract processes that are already underway, it will be up to head of each Ministry to decide whether to suspend them or consider them indispensable for the operation of the Ministry.
Up to seven months is the length of delay in the Salvadoran state making payments to companies that provide goods and services, which particularly affects creditor SMEs.
The figure was confirmed by the Technical Secretary of the Presidency, Roberto Lorenzana, who noted that"...That [the situation] is being resolved and we are confident that will obligations this year will be resolved.Its more or less [that amount], the figure changes ... it changes every day because every day there are payments ... "
The union of private companies has submitted a constitutional challenge against the Collective Bargaining Agreement of the state run refinery Recope.
From a statement issued by the Costa Rican Union of Chambers and Associations of Private Business Sector (UCCAEP):
Costa Ricans would have to pay for paid vacation days during national festivities, subsidies to buy glasses and scholarships for studying abroad, among other things.
Union of Chambers has challenged these benefits, to be paid for with public funds, for being irrational and disproportionate.
State expenditures continue to exceed tax revenues while the government cries out for legislative approval of the proposed tax reform.
In October, total revenues amounted to ¢3,241,326 million ($6,047 million), recording a variation of 8.5%, while total expenditures reached ¢4,589,189 million ($8.561 billion), growing 9.6% compared to the same period in 2014.
It has been pointed out that the solution to the financial debacle of the State of Costa Rica unavoidably involves rethinking the system of incentives and salaries of public officials.
Crhoy.com reports that "... economists and former ministers have said it's good that a containment of public expenditure be made, but if the current government and MPs really want to solve the budget deficit they must not stick only to the administrative unti but must also delve into the issue of public sector salaries."
Facing a serious and growing fiscal deficit, the Solís administration has presented the 2015 spending plan for the central government which is 19% higher than that of 2014.
Even though the fiscal deficit up to July is already located at 3% of GDP, the government has decided to increase the state budget for 2015 by 19%, which added to the 4% increase approved for public wages and 14% increase in the resources paid to state universities, threatens to push up interest rates and further complicate the economic scenario.
The new Solís administration plans to establish the Value Added Tax and demand proof of tax payment for procedures in public institutions and on application for bank loans.
The tax reform being prepared includes a bill to reform income tax. This is part of a project by the Ministry of Finance which includes 55 specific actions among which are changes in the area of income, reducing government spending and control of state borrowing.
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