Quintana Roo Legislature Boosts Security and Social Programs with 2025 Budget Upgrade

The 18th Legislature of Quintana Roo has given the green light to the 2025 Economic Package. The approved budget is set at 51,474 million pesos, marking an 8.7% increase from 2024. This translates to an additional 4,212 million pesos. The primary focus of the Economic Package is security, social welfare, and economic development.

Martha Parroquin Perez, the Secretary of Finance and Planning, stated that this budget increase would bolster priority sectors such as security and social programs. Of the total budget, 34,667 million pesos are set aside as unrestricted income. Social spending takes precedence, with an allocation of 20,633 million pesos, followed by the government, security, and justice sector at 9,682 million pesos.

The budget has earmarked 2,024 million pesos for tourism and economic development. An additional 2,232 million pesos will be directed towards public investment, primarily focusing on educational and tourist infrastructure. The security sector will receive an investment of 7,063 million pesos, which includes the creation of 243 new positions for preventive police and 150 for ministerial police. Funds will also be allocated for technology and intelligence in this sector.

To bolster revenue, the government plans to introduce four new levies. These include a tax on tourists participating in aquatic animal activities, a duty for cruise passengers, and a fee for services in archaeological zones.

Governor Mara Lezama emphasized that the budget is in line with the New Agreement for the Welfare and Development of Quintana Roo. She highlighted the government's commitment to transparency and reducing inequalities, and assured that no additional debt would be incurred.

Details of the new contributions include:

• A 50 peso tax on tourists for aquatic animal activities, expected to generate 107 million pesos.
• A 5 dollar duty for cruise passengers, estimated to bring in 450 million pesos.
• A fee for services in archaeological zones, projected to yield 588 million pesos. This will benefit sites such as Tulum and Ichkabal.
• A permit for sports fishing, initially priced at 271 pesos, to be updated according to the Units of Measure and Update (UMA).