Background and Key Players
Querétaro, Qro. The LXI Legislature of Querétaro approved the state’s economic package for the 2026 fiscal year after initially rejecting it during the first Plenary Session and making necessary modifications. The approval came on December 15, just before the deadline for voting on the project.
The 25 local representatives unanimously supported the amendments to the state’s Income Law, Budget of Expenditures, Miscellaneous Fiscal measures, and the Income Laws of the 18 municipalities. These changes include:
- Allocating resources from the IEPS formula to less favored municipalities.
- Eliminating various rights and charges on state services, which previously suggested increases.
- Reducing the budget for state entities such as the Private Secretariat, Cabinet Office, and communication social expenses by 20% compared to the original document.
- Rejecting San Juan del Río municipality’s request for borrowing and declining to raise the waste collection service fee in Querétaro municipality.
Moreover, the legislature recognized municipal finances effectively, allowing them to grant predial tax and transfer of domain tax subsidies.
Legislators’ Statements
Morena’s representative, Sully Yanira Mauricio Sixtos, acknowledged that the state’s budget isn’t perfect but allows progress and can be improved with vigilance and oversight.
Blanca Flor Benítez, another Morena representative, urged Governor Mauricio Kuri González to ensure that the 465 million pesos allocated to serrano and semi-desert municipalities are not exercised discretionally but instead address the lagging areas’ needs.
Governor’s Response
In response to the approval, Governor Mauricio Kuri González expressed gratitude to the local legislature via social media:
Tonight, Querétaro has a 2026 expenditure budget, and I recognize the local legislature for its responsibility, foresight, and genuine commitment to the well-being of Queretanos. This process has been successfully navigated, enabling our residents and institutions to enter 2026 with full strength.
Project Rejection Background
On September 13, the legislature initially rejected the economic package proposal during a Plenary Session with 13 votes against from Morena, PT, and PVEM representatives, while 12 voted in favor from PAN, PRI, Movimiento Ciudadano, and PVEM representatives.
Morena’s representative Edgar Inzunza Ballestero criticized the lack of consensus and deemed the budget insufficient, insensitive, centralized, and unequal. He highlighted the gap between the Metropolitan Zone and other municipalities, prompting a request to send the initiative back to the drafting committee.
Luis Gerardo Ángeles Herrera, the PAN representative and President of the Planning and Budget Committee, defended the state government’s proposal as a solid response to societal demands. He explained that 75% of the income comes from federal sources, 18% from state income, and 7% from self-financing.
Commission’s Role and Approval
After rejection by majority, the draft returned to the Planning and Budget Committee. On the same day, the committee, with a newly formed composition (approved that day), unanimously approved the fiscal package projects for 2026 and municipal income laws. The Morena, PT, and PVEM bloc’s representative, Ulises Gómez de la Rosa, presented 11 points for consideration.
These approved proposals were then discussed in the Plenary Session on December 15, preceding citizen demonstrations supporting the main political factions outside the Congress.
