Boa Vista City Council Increases Monthly Budget

The Boa Vista City Council has authorized a significant increase in operational funds for its legislative body. On Wednesday, January 21, the council voted to raise the monthly office budget for all 24 councilors.

This decision marks a 20% adjustment to the financial resources available to each legislator. The increase takes effect in February 2026 and is expected to substantially impact the municipal budget for the coming year.

The adjustment was formalized through a document signed by the Mesa Diretora, which includes the council president, Genilson Costa of the Republicans party. This move follows a trend of financial updates within the legislative assembly.

The new financial structure significantly alters the cost of maintaining the legislative branch. The maximum monthly budget for each office has risen from R$50,000 to R$60,000.

When combined with the base salary of R$20,800 paid to each councilor, the total annual expenditure is projected to reach R$23.2 million. This figure represents the cumulative cost of salaries and office operations for the 24 legislators.

On a monthly basis, the total potential spending for all 24 gabinetes is now R$1.44 million. This represents a monthly increase of R$240,000 across the entire council.

The budget increase is not an isolated event. Historical data shows a substantial growth in legislative spending over the past decade and a half:

• 2012: Office budget was R$21,900 per month.
• 2026: Office budget is R$60,000 per month.
• Growth: A cumulative increase of 173.9% over 14 years.

The office budget is utilized to cover the payroll of staff working directly with each councilor. This includes positions such as Chief of Staff, parliamentary advisors, executive secretaries, and assistants.

While the number of support staff can be distributed freely by the councilor, the Chief of Staff position is strictly regulated. Only one appointment is permitted per office. Following the recent adjustment, the salary for this specific role has increased from R$6,000 to R$8,000 per month.

The Mesa Diretora provided a specific justification for the budgetary expansion, citing external economic factors and local demographic shifts:

"[...] os últimos anos, tem crescido a demanda de profissionais em virtude do aumento da população e problemas que assolam nosso município, vale destacar também, que tivemos reajuste do salário mínimo, impactando diretamente na folha de pagamento."

This statement highlights the dual pressures of population growth and inflation on the municipal payroll.

Beyond the office budget adjustments, the council also approved a project to reorganize the administrative structure of the City Council. This legislation specifically targets the remuneration of commissioned employees.

The project reorganizes several administrative sectors, including the Special Directorate of Information Technology. It also establishes a new pay table for the council's 360 commissioned servants.

Under the new table, monthly salaries vary significantly based on role and function, ranging from R$1,670 to R$13,400. The total monthly cost for these commissioned positions is estimated at approximately R$1.1 million.

The justification for this reorganization mirrors that of the office budget increase. The document states the goal is to correct inflationary losses and align salaries with the new minimum wage value projected for 2026, while simultaneously updating the chamber's internal organization.

Despite the substantial increases, the council asserts that both adjustments adhere to legal financial constraints. The 2026 total budget for the Boa Vista City Council is set at R$96.4 million.

Brazilian fiscal legislation dictates that personnel expenses for the legislative branch cannot exceed 70% of the total budget. According to studies attached to the approved projects, the council continues to respect this limit.

The documents confirm that the budget increases for both office funds and commissioned staff possess budgetary forecasts and do not exceed the limits established by the Fiscal Responsibility Law. This ensures the adjustments are legally sound despite the increased expenditure.

The financial adjustments approved by the Boa Vista City Council signal a shift in resource allocation for the legislative body. With the new budget taking effect in February 2026, the focus shifts to how these resources will be deployed.

The council now has increased capacity to hire additional staff and adjust salaries for existing employees. This flexibility comes at a time when the city is facing growing demands for public services.

As the new fiscal year progresses, the impact of these spending increases on municipal service delivery will be closely watched. The balance between legislative operational costs and public service efficiency remains a key point of interest for the municipality.