**Tijuana City Council Approves 2025 Budget of Nearly 12.5 Billion Pesos**
In a significant development, the Tijuana City Council has unanimously approved the 2025 budget, set at nearly 12,500 million pesos. This marks a 15% increase compared to the adjusted budget for 2024. This budget approval took place during an extraordinary session on October 31, 2024, marking the first budget presented by Mayor Ismael Burgueño Ruiz.
Mayor Burgueño emphasized the importance of teamwork across political divides to transparently and honestly address the city’s needs. The budget plans substantial investments in infrastructure, technology, intelligence, public recreational spaces, arts, culture, and sports.
The opposition party, Partido Acción Nacional, voiced its approval, albeit with some reservations. Councilor Georgina Arana highlighted the need for salary harmonization for police and firefighters, a concern not yet addressed in the upcoming fiscal plan. She also stressed the importance of enhancing the Secretary of Mobility with better equipment and resources to tackle Tijuana’s infrastructure challenges as Mexico’s most populous city.
Sandra Magaña, another member of the opposition, called for concrete progress in security, mobility, and construction, commending Mayor Burgueño for considering proposals from their party.
Councilor Melissa Pacheco of Movimiento Ciudadano also urged for a focus on tourism, promoting Tijuana as a cultural and business hub, stressing the need for robust cross-border relations and innovative promotional policies.
Morena Councilor Arturo Aguirre remarked that the newly approved budget will strengthen Tijuana’s finances and deliver positive outcomes in infrastructure and security.
The 2025 budget earmarks 1,670 million pesos specifically for security, derived from internal resources and the Municipal Strengthening Contributions Fund (FORTAMUN). Critically, the city must ensure fiscal discipline, ensuring no commitments exceed allotted expenditures or unauthorized payments.
The budget also outlines the creation of 133 new positions, predominantly in the police force and fire services, aligning with a significant focus on public safety.
**Secondary Update: Ongoing Conversations Regarding Federal Participations**
The leader of the Acción Nacional in Tijuana, Christopher Domínguez, emphasized the open dialogue with the mayor regarding the budget. However, he expressed concerns over the expedited timeline for its presentation, noting that federal participation details are pending until the Economic Package for 2025 is submitted by the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit on November 15th.
In contrast to his predecessor, Montserrat Caballero, Mayor Burgueño has introduced spending ceilings in the upcoming year’s budget. The City Council is expected to soon approve the Revenue Law, which will provide further clarity on the city’s financial landscape.
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