MPMG sues to block R$ 1.8 million in Santa Bárbara do Tugúrio festival spending

The Public Prosecutor's Office of Minas Gerais (MPMG) has filed a civil public action to block R$ 1.816 million in spending by the City Hall of Santa Bárbara do Tugúrio. The funds are intended for hiring artists for the 40th Festa da Banana.

The MPMG alleges that these expenditures are disproportionate to the municipality's financial reality. A technical study by the MPMG's Technical Support Center (Ceat) indicated that the planned cost for artists exceeds the city's estimated own revenue for 2026, which is approximately R$ 930,000.

Furthermore, data shows that festivities spending increased by over 300% in this specific event, growing from R$ 1.6 million in 2024 to R$ 4.9 million in 2025. To cover these costs, the municipality redirected over R$ 4.6 million between 2024 and 2026 from budgets originally allocated to health, education, and infrastructure. Prosecutor Vinicius de Souza Chaves stated that such expenses violate principles of reasonableness and administrative economicity.