Municipalities in Argentina and Chile face judicial scrutiny over finances

In Argentina, a court in Junín has ordered the municipality of Rojas to provide detailed documentation regarding the collection and use of taxes paid by rural producers. The ruling, issued by Judge Juan Atilio Bazzani, follows complaints from the Sociedad Rural, Federación Agraria Argentina, and Coninagro. The municipality has 45 days to report on tax revenue for 2025 and 2026, including how conservation, repair, and road improvement fees are calculated and how much national or provincial co-participation funds were used for rural road maintenance.

The court order also requires Rojas to detail the costs of these taxes, the extent of the rural road network, and whether maintenance is performed by municipal staff or third-party services. This includes information on equipment, maintenance costs, and worker salaries.

In Chile, the mayor of Río Bueno, Luis Reyes, has addressed a significant judicial debt involving the rental of Casona Machmar. Reyes attributed the debt, which has reached approximately 400 million pesos, to the previous administration under former mayor Carolina Silva. The mayor stated that while the debt was initially over 80 million pesos in 2021, it escalated because the property was not formally returned. The municipality is currently seeking a payment agreement to split the obligation into two installments to protect funds intended for social programs, education, and elderly care.