Government of SP proposes reduction of funds for Education

Against the national clamor for more funding for Education, São Paulo governor Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans) sent, on Tuesday night (17), to the Assembly Legislative Assembly of the State of São Paulo (Alesp), a PEC (Constitutional Amendment Proposal), which requests a reduction from 30% to 25% of state revenue from investment in the sector educational.

As justification for the measure, the head of the Bandeirante Executive argued that the 5 percentage points resulting from the budget reduction would be employed in the Health sector, which, according to the local government, ‘would be presenting an increasing demand for spending, each year’, due to the increase in the population's life expectancy, as well as the incorporation of new treatments and medicines, as a result of the “advancement technology”.

Another claim by Freitas would be based on the fact that the federal Constitution determines that states apply 25% of its resources in public education, while São Paulo commits up to 30%, at least, of its revenue to this goal.

In a certain section, the draft PEC emphasizes that, “in this scenario, the change I propose in the constitutional text is to maintain the link additional 5% (five percent) of tax revenue, including resources from transfers, allowing, however, this percentage that than that provided for in article 212 of the Federal Constitution can be used for education, as well as for financing actions and services of health".

Further on, the governor's proposal clarifies that the intention would be to 'make the additional 5% allocation more flexible, so that this percentage can be used, both in the maintenance and development of education, and for additional financing of health actions and services, to strengthen the health sector in the state.

Another line of argument from the governor of São Paulo is that, 'over the years, the value of the SUS table has become 'insufficient' to cover the costs of procedures and treatments, and that the “allocation of additional resources will allow for a better adjustment of the amounts paid to providers of services, especially philanthropic ones, encouraging the participation of professionals and institutions in the public system, with an expansion of access".

At the end of the PEC text, Tarcísio admits that the budget change would serve to “increase the transfer of values ​​from the state to the municipalities, linked to result indicators, with a view to improving the health management capacity of local administrations, with priority given to Primary Care the health". After consideration by the Alesp committees, the PEC must pass the scrutiny of deputies in the Plenary to then be sanctioned by the governor.