Colombian departments face severe financial cuts

During the last months, Colombian governors have held multiple meetings in Bogotá with parliamentary representatives to express their dissatisfaction with a national budget that contemplates investment cuts of between 20% to 40% in some departments.

According to the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit, 29 departments will be allocated an inferior investment budget in 2025, compared to 2024. Sucre with a reduction of 37.4% will be the most affected, followed closely by Córdoba (-36.9%), Atlántico (-32.6%), and Putumayo (-32.4%). In addition, cuts exceeding 20% are expected in other departments such as Meta, Cundinamarca, Santander, Antioquia, La Guajira, Risaralda, Guaviare, and Cesar.

Lucy García Montes, Governor of Sucre, the most affected department, praised the solidarity demonstrated by many parliamentarians:"At the working table between senators and governors, we agreed that the country’s development requires decentralization and resources that reach where they are most needed”. Similarly, Jairo Aguilar, governor of La Guajira, a department that is expected to see a 23% cut, stated: “The reduction of regional funds is very concerning. These transfers are necessary to keep our word to the people of La Guajira and generate competitiveness in the department. We need resources, among other things, to meet the basic needs of the children of the department."

Senator David Luna has requested President Gustavo Petro to rectify this decision, reminding him that his administration claimed to be “of and for the regions”. “It makes no sense - he wrote on X (Twitter) - that bureaucracy and operating expenses increase, while investment in 29 departments is reduced”.

In October, governors had already warned that the General Royalties System budget put vital projects of the departments at risk, which could affect, among other things, food, school transportation or housing programs. In the end, the cut in resources for the regions affects areas such as education, health, water and basic sanitation, culture, sports, the environment, housing, agriculture, infrastructure, and roads.