La Fortaleza, San Juan, Puerto Rico — June 29, 2026 — Governor Jenniffer González-Colón signed the Government of Puerto Rico’s budget for Fiscal Year 2026-2027, strengthening government reserves while addressing priority needs and expanding direct services for residents. The $13.174 billion budget reflects a public policy focused on fiscal responsibility, government efficiency, savings, and the responsible use of public funds.

“Every dollar contributed by our taxpayers must be used responsibly and directed toward essential services for our people. These line-item vetoes reflect our commitment to fiscal discipline and to ensuring that public resources directly benefit the people of Puerto Rico,” said Governor González-Colón.

Among the priorities included in this new budget is a historic investment in public safety, including increased funding for the Puerto Rico Police Bureau. The budget provides $1.071 billion in direct operational expenses, $44 million for the implementation of salary scale increases that had not been reviewed in 10 years, fulfilling the Governor’s commitment to Puerto Rico’s police officers, and $15 million for the purchase of equipment, including bulletproof vests and other essential resources.

The Puerto Rico Police Bureau’s budget in Fiscal Year 2026 was $861 million. Under this new budget, the Governor increased funding by $270 million, bringing the total allocation to $1.131 billion—the largest budget allocation in the history of the Puerto Rico Police Bureau.

The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation previously received $440 million. For Fiscal Year 2026-2027, the Governor increased its allocation by $21 million, bringing the total budget to $461 million.

For years, public safety has been one of the most significant areas requiring increased budgetary attention. This budget provides recurring resources to address public safety priorities while equipping police officers and corrections officers with improved tools, resources, and working conditions. It also fulfills commitments established through legislation that increased salaries but had not previously been addressed through the budget process.

The Homemaker Services Program remains a critical resource for meeting the needs of older adults. As part of this budget, funding was increased by $5 million, bringing the total allocation to $20 million and supporting services provided by more than 3,000 contracted homemakers serving senior citizens throughout Puerto Rico.

Another fulfilled commitment included in this budget is the childcare voucher program for families who do not qualify under federal programs. This initiative allows working parents and families with limited income to enter or remain in the workforce. A total of $11.5 million was allocated for this program.

Following the signing of Act 16-2026, which recognizes SER de Puerto Rico as a Heritage Institution of the People of Puerto Rico in honor of its 75 years of uninterrupted service and its impact on thousands of Puerto Rican families, the Governor allocated $5 million in recurring funding to the organization. This investment will ensure operational stability and strengthen the retention of highly trained medical specialists who provide care for individuals with complex conditions.

To strengthen the “Hogares” initiative of the Administration for Families and Children (ADFAN) and expand services focused on the well-being, protection, and quality of life of older adults, the budget includes $15.2 million. Additionally, $17 million was allocated to strengthen substitute care services for older adults and adults with disabilities.

The budget also includes $1.6 million to support the recruitment and retention of specialized physicians at the Cardiovascular Center of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. Furthermore, $23.6 million was allocated to modernize Medicaid Program information systems, strengthen the Government’s ability to maximize federal funding, and improve operational efficiency.

A key component of economic development and improving quality of life is maintaining a reliable and efficient transportation infrastructure system. For this reason, the Governor secured the largest General Fund allocation for road investments in the past 10 years. The budget includes an additional $70 million for road improvements, bringing total investments dedicated exclusively to roadway repairs during this calendar year to $200 million.

The original budget proposal submitted by the Executive Branch totaled $13.180 billion. However, the Senate introduced amendments and implemented $5.6 million in reductions to allocations under the Office of Management and Budget (OGP), funds intended to address operational risks.

The Governor signed the budget after exercising her constitutional line-item veto authority and reducing an additional $5.829 million. These savings will be returned to the General Fund to strengthen government reserves and ensure resources remain available for direct services to residents.

Among the eliminated allocations was $709,000 designated for the Association of Puerto Ricans on the March, an organization based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Governor reduced this allocation to zero. Additionally, a $700,000 allocation for Caribbean preparedness and response efforts was eliminated for an organization operating outside Puerto Rico in the states.

“The priority of this administration is ensuring that resources generated through the contributions of our citizens are used to strengthen services in Puerto Rico and address the needs of our people here on the island,” stated the Governor.

As part of the line-item veto process, the Governor made adjustments to the General Services Administration (ASG), consistent with the administration’s public policy of reducing operational expenses and professional service costs.

The reductions include:

·       A $300,000 reduction in confidential positions, restoring the allocation to its original level of $1.659 million after the Legislature increased it to $1.959 million.

·       The elimination of a $1.020 million increase in professional services that was not included in the original Executive Branch budget submission.

·       A $300,000 reduction in legal services, decreasing the allocation from $885,000 to $585,000.

·       A $300,000 reduction in funding allocated for the JEDI 1 and JEDI 2 systems, reducing the allocation from $400,000 to $100,000.

The reduction related to JEDI 1 and JEDI 2 reflects the implementation of Puerto Rico’s new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system scheduled to launch on July 7, following nearly a decade of development. Since the ERP system will absorb the functions currently performed by these systems, maintaining higher levels of funding for their operation and maintenance is no longer necessary.

Additionally, the reduction in professional services responds to the implementation of the ERP procurement and financial modules, whose automated processes will reduce the need for external contracting, promote greater operational efficiency, and generate savings for the Government.

Following these adjustments, the General Services Administration will maintain a budget of approximately $19.5 million, preserving the resources necessary to fulfill its mission.

The Governor also exercised line-item veto authority over allocations related to the Capitol Superintendency of the Legislative Assembly after identifying a significant $2.5 million increase above the budget originally submitted by the Executive Branch.

The Legislative Assembly had incorporated increases totaling approximately $10 million above the original proposed budget. Through the line-item veto process, $2.5 million in reductions were implemented. Even after these reductions, the Governor allowed for a net increase of approximately $7.5 million for the Legislative Branch.

“Fiscal responsibility is an obligation of the entire Government. Just as Executive Branch agencies have implemented adjustments to maximize resources and control expenses, other branches of government must also act with prudence and budgetary responsibility,” said the Governor.

Following the signing of the budget and the implementation of the line-item vetoes, the Governor submitted the document to the Financial Oversight and Management Board for evaluation and final approval.

The Administration maintains that this budget complies with established fiscal parameters, as it is even lower than the original proposal submitted by the Executive Branch. This strengthens Puerto Rico’s fiscal position while ensuring responsible management of public resources.

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