Massive Debt Haunts Re-elected Federal Deputy

Juan Carrillo Soberanis, a re-elected federal deputy for Quintana Roo and former mayor of Isla Mujeres, has yet to address a substantial debt of 134 million pesos (MDP) owed to the city council. This debt is part of a larger sum of 193.6 million pesos that he left with the Federation, primarily owed to ISSSTE, SAT, and Fonacot, which still stands at 134.4 million pesos.

The bulk of the debt, 129 million 878 thousand 222.10 pesos, is owed to ISSSTE. An agreement reached in the summer of 2022 has seen monthly repayments of over 900 thousand pesos, totaling 18 million 242 thousand 60.90 pesos to date. However, no payments have been made towards the 14 million 639 thousand 61.45 pesos owed to the Tax Administration Service (SAT), and the 8 million 165 thousand 40.62 pesos debt with Fonacot remains untouched. These debts are expected to be settled "in the long term".

In addition, there are 40 million 955 thousand 253.25 pesos in lawsuits filed against the municipality of Isla Mujeres. The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office has yet to comment on the legal proceedings against the former Municipal President. This information, accurate as of March 31 of this year, highlights the financial challenges faced by the current administration at the start of its term.

Despite these challenges, tax collection has improved significantly, with revenue projections tripling from 2021 to 2024, rising from 356.1 million pesos to 935 million pesos. The actual collection in 2021 was 464 million 947 thousand 847 pesos, increasing to 724 million 023 thousand pesos in 2022, and reaching a record 910 million 333 thousand 934 pesos in 2023. Unofficial estimates suggest that it could exceed one billion pesos by the end of this year.

In the first quarter, 263 million 198 thousand 358.82 pesos were collected in Taxes, Rights, Products, and Benefits, and 94 million 018 thousand 696.56 pesos in Federal Participations, totaling 357 million 217 thousand 055.38 pesos. If this trend continues, the collection could set a new historical record.

No information is available regarding the legal proceedings against Juan Carrillo by the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office due to official silence. It is alleged that the former mayor diverted around 250 million pesos during his five-year term. Carrillo did not campaign in April and May due to fear of public backlash, yet he still won the federal District I with 65.32 percent of the votes.

Despite his political maneuvering with Morena, PVEM, and PT, local residents Luis Cob and Héctor Vázquez insist that "society is demanding prosecution and a return of the money."