Neuquén and Río Negro see budget increases in Argentina's 2027 proposal

The Argentine Executive Branch has submitted the 2027 General Budget Project to Congress, detailing significant resource allocations for the provinces of Neuquén and Río Negro. In Neuquén, the budget is projected to rise from $1,720,208 million in 2026 to $2,145,111 million, a nominal increase of 24.7%. Río Negro is set to see an increase from $2,924,768 million to $3,610,176 million, a 23.4% rise. In both provinces, social security expenditures constitute the vast majority of the budget, accounting for 69.1% in Neuquén and 77.7% in Río Negro.

In Neuquén, the provincial government reports that growth in the Vaca Muerta hydrocarbon activity is driving public investment. Authorities state that hydrocarbon royalties represent nearly half of the provincial current income. As of July, Neuquén recorded a financial surplus of approximately 200 billion pesos, allowing for a 28% real-term increase in public works execution compared to the previous year. The province aims to exceed one trillion pesos in infrastructure investment this year, having already executed over 500 billion pesos through July.