Costa Rica's Contraloría General faces technical closure over 5% budget cut

The Contraloría General of the Republic (CGR) warned the Ministry of Finance that a 5% reduction in its budget – about ¢1.055 billion – would force a technical closure of the institution. In a letter to minister Rodrigo Chaves, CGR head Marta Acosta said, “Ceder un 5% de nuestro presupuesto llevaría en la práctica a un cierre técnico de la institución”. The CGR, whose 2026 budget is ¢21 billion, identified only ¢100 million that could be trimmed without jeopardising essential operations such as staff salaries, utilities and contracted services.

The ministry’s proposed cuts would also impair the CGR’s ability to carry out new duties, including the audit of the sworn statements of roughly 28 000 police officers next year. The CGR’s request for an additional ¢796 million for 2027 was rejected, prompting concerns that budgetary constraints could weaken the independence of key democratic watchdogs in Costa Rica.