Families under economic pressure shouldn’t be looking to the state’s politicians to set a good example about running up debt.
Jalisco has the dubious honor of being the most indebted of Mexico’s 32 states.
The state – the sixth largest in the country – owes 7.8 billion pesos, 18 percent of the national total. Jalisco’s 125 municipalities account for more than two-thirds of the total – 5.4 billion pesos.The debts run up by the spendthrift municipality of Guadalajara boost the figure considerably. The city is in hock to the tune of 2.8 billion pesos.
Of the other metro area municipalities, Zapopan owes 1.43 billion, Tlaquepaque 724.4 million, Tonala 766.3 million and Tlajomulco 320 million. Puerto Vallarta is 345 million pesos in the red.
Guadalajara’s hosting of the Pan American Games in October 2011 has also contributed to Jalisco’s exceptional indebtedness.
In addition, the state is still paying off loans taken out to build the city’s second Tren Ligero (subway) line more than two decades ago, as well as the BRT “Macrobus” route on the Calzada Independencia that opened four years ago.