Puerto Rico Governor Jenniffer González said she is still pressing the Financial Oversight and Management Board (Junta de Supervisión Fiscal) to freeze for two months the 6% state sales and use tax (IVU) applied to prepared meals. She spoke at the Restaurant Show of the Puerto Rico Restaurant Association, where she promised immediate action to ease the pocketbook of Puerto Ricans.
González did not detail how the proposal would be financed. It would carry a fiscal impact of $56.8 million, which drew questions from the Oversight Board. She also defended her government still evaluating alternatives to relieve consumers, even though the new electricity rate has been in effect for almost a month and closures of several businesses continue to be reported.
In a forceful letter reacting to the IVU proposal, the Board asked the government why two bills creating permanent fiscal safeguards had not been signed. Those measures, introduced by La Fortaleza itself, were part of the agreement under which the Board approved $554 million in tax relief. Asked by Noticentro, González said the bills were changed during the legislative process in ways that altered the intent of both measures, so she could not sign them.
She said both bills were filed again in the hope that they advance during this legislative session.