The budget for the Special Fund for Higher Education (FEES) and next year travels were thought to be excessive, however, President of the Republic Luis Guillermo Solís defended them.
Legislator from Partido de Liberación Nacional Sandra Piszk and other lawmakers from different parties declared that the proposal made by the Government on these two issues do not correspond to the reality of the country.
According to the information provided by Piszk, the Executive proposed to increase by 38 billion colones the FEES budget and by 77 million colones the travels budget, which represents an 8.6% and 7.8% increase compared to the previous year’s budget. Inflation is about 1%.
Nevertheless, the Costa Rican president defended the proposals, mainly that one concerning public universities. He considers that reducing that money would generate a negative impact on the regular functioning of these institutions.
Legislators declared that due to the fiscal crisis the country is going through and due to the social restrictions that are taking place, they see no reason to increase the fees.
Regarding the increase in travels budget, Solís didn’t say a lot and he argued that if the legislators consider it to be excessive, they may submit the amendments they deem necessary.