Mayor Damián Arévalo seeks salary cap for San José de Feliciano officials

Mayor Damián Arévalo of San José de Feliciano announced he will present an ordinance to the municipal council that would set a maximum salary for the mayor at eight times the basic wage of a category‑10 municipal employee, reducing the previous ceiling of nine times that wage. The draft also restructures the remuneration regime for municipal officials and councilors, clarifying the distinction between salaries, diets and representation expenses.

Arévalo said the measure aims to increase transparency and demonstrate fiscal austerity amid a difficult economic context. He highlighted that he had already cut his own salary by decree shortly after taking office and reduced the mayor’s representation expenses from 33 % to about 10 % of the budget. The proposal is framed as an example of “effort and austerity starting at home” for local government.