The Magdalena City Council rejected the 2026 budget sent by the municipal executive, leaving the district once again without an approved budget ordinance after a 6-5 vote. The initiative projected a calculation of resources and expenses of $23.4 billion for the fiscal year, but it failed due to a lack of political agreement. The session exposed the fracture between blocs and the difficulty of maintaining minimum rules of governance for the administration. In parallel, the 2026 Fiscal and Imposition Ordinance was approved, which defines the scheme of municipal rates and, in practice, becomes the collection instrument while the budget remains stalled. According to the Argentine News Agency, the budget contemplated allocations by purpose, with personnel costs as the main item, in addition to sections for urban services, health, and infrastructure maintenance, in a context where municipalities are demanding margins due to inflation and increasing costs. The opposition argued for a lack of transparency and demanded greater precision in destinations and priorities; the ruling party, in turn, warned about the risk of 'administering blindly' in sensitive areas such as services and emergencies. This scenario creates operational tension: without a voted budget, the executive is tied to extension/administration mechanisms that often end up in disputes over control and accountability, with a direct impact on works and purchases.
