Tarcísio proposes a 33% cut in social actions for 2024 – 10/06/2023 – Panel

The Tarcísio de Freitas (Republican) government included a 33% reduction in the resources of the Secretariat of Social Development in the Annual Budget Law project that it sent to the Legislative Assembly on Monday (2). With the measure, the department headed by Gilberto Nascimento Júnior would have R$560 million less in 2024.

A study by the office of deputy Paulo Fiorilo, leader of the PT in Alesp, shows that in the 2023 Annual Budget Law, the secretariat responsible for actions with people in various vulnerable situations (food, financial, drug use, etc.) was left with budget of R$1.67 billion. For next year, the proposal is to have R$1.1 billion.

In the case of Bolsa do Povo, an income transfer program that was one of former governor João Doria’s showcases, the budget of R$542 million for 2023 was reduced to just over R$1 million in 2024.

In September, the Sheet showed that the Tarcísio government froze R$738.9 million from the program to pay for the increase in public service spending.

Other portfolios should also be downsized, according to the Annual Budget Bill sent by the governor: Sports should lose around 36%, and Culture, 4%. Health presents a growth of just under 3%, therefore, below the inflation of the last twelve months – which implies a real loss of resources.

“This first budget drawn up by the governor is a direct attack on social policies and public service”, says Fiorilo, who claims that Tarcísio is authoritarian in already including in the Budget forecast the privatizations of Sabesp and Emae, in relation to which the opposition is criticism.

“Even more impactful is the drain on resources in important areas, such as policies for women, the 33% reduction in the budget for the social development portfolio and the total absence in the 2024 LOA of a program and actions for funding and investment in cameras police officers. Simply a shocking proposal, which needs to be improved in the debate now in Parliament”, he adds.

In a note, the government of São Paulo states that the budget “was prepared guaranteeing the advances of 2023 and seeking to maintain the level of investment, especially what is already contracted, for 2024. The estimates for the main macroeconomic parameters were established based on most recent projections and represent the most likely scenario in light of known data (GDP 1.3% IGP-M 4%).”

“In relation to assistance programs for people in vulnerable situations, the Department of Social Development clarifies that Bolsa do Povo is being reformulated, without prejudice to the assistance of registered citizens who continue to receive the benefit. The list of services will be expanded after the reformulation of the program. At the same time, the Ministry continues to implement other initiatives to combat poverty and reduce inequalities, such as Vivaleite, Bom Prato and actions to assist drug addicts”, he concludes.

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