São Paulo government cut removes R$ 9.66 billion from education

The decision by the governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas, to reduce, from 30% to 25%, the participation of the education sector in state revenue, in addition to provoke reactions and protests against the measure, should result in a loss of up to R$ 9.66 billion for universities, schools and daycare centers in São Paulo, already in the next year,

The measure, which could compromise the goal of increasing daycare places in São Paulo municipalities, was forwarded to Alesp (Assembleia Legislative Assembly of the State of São Paulo), last Tuesday (17) by the head of the Bandeirante Executive, through an Amendment Proposal Constitutional (PEC).

It is interesting to note that the PLC forwarded to the Legislature does not provide data or information regarding its financial impact or clarifies which educational steps or actions would be reduced in budgetary resources, if approved by deputies states.

When questioned, the Executive highlighted that “it is not proposing a reduction in investments”, but a “decoupling of up to 5%”, adding that “the proposal opens up the possibility of partial or total relocation of the 5% flexible budget for the health area, which is also a priority for the population".

Without informing how much, after all, the education of the richest state in the country will lose with the measure, the Bandeirante government limited itself to project, for next year, a net revenue of R$ 193.23 billion, as foreseen in the PLOA (Budget Bill) sent to Alesp.

As a result, it is clear that, of the R$57.96 billion allocated to education, only R$48.3 billion will be invested. When calculating investment in education, resources for maintaining schools are considered state, as well as transfers to city halls, with a view to expanding the supply of places in education childish.

Constitution ‘contradicted’ – When released, at the beginning of this month, by the Tarcísio government, next year's PLOA already provided for an allocation budgetary contribution of less than 30% of local revenue for education, which goes against what is determined by the Constitution paulista. According to the project sent to the assembly, the forecast was an amount of R$54.65 billion or 28.28% of state revenue – R$3.32 billion below what is established by legislation.

According to the 1989 Constitution of São Paulo, it is the state's prerogative to spend 30% of tax revenue on education and another 12% on health. This percentage for education is higher than that foreseen by the Federal Constitution, which set the minimum spending on the sector at 25%.