Alfredo Cornejo's government closed 2025 with a decree governing public spending in Mendoza during 2026. Decree 2974, published on December 31 and signed by the governor and cabinet, sets quarterly limits, restrictions on new hiring and controls over contracts, goods and services. The official rationale is to preserve budget balance without interrupting essential public services.
The core is an accumulated schedule for the central administration and decentralized agencies. Up to 15% of the budget may be executed in the first quarter; another 25% in the second brings the total to 40%; 25% more in the third reaches 65%; and the remaining 35% becomes available in the fourth to complete 100%. The sequence seeks to match spending with actual revenue.
The rule also places a temporary brake on government staffing. New procedures connected to hiring are suspended until April, while agencies review needs and accelerate retirement cases for eligible staff. The restrictions are not presented as a general elimination of jobs but as a prior filter to prevent personnel decisions from creating permanent obligations without financial backing.
Contracts and operating expenses will also be monitored. Each department must fit execution within the limits and justify exceptions to economic authorities. The Finance Ministry, led by Víctor Fayad, may track tax revenue and adopt additional measures if resources fail to match the schedule. Control therefore continues throughout the fiscal year rather than ending with initial authorization.
Official telephones show the everyday reach of the adjustment. Devices are reserved for senior authorities, although ministers may authorize other cases for documented service reasons. Employees holding a phone without approval must return it within 30 business days to the Information Technology and Communications Directorate; otherwise, the cost may be charged to the person registered as responsible.
The decree starts on the first business day of 2026 and remains in force until the next fiscal regulation replaces it. Other branches and municipalities are invited to adopt similar criteria. The test is to follow the percentages without pushing delays into year-end and prove that administrative restrictions produce measurable savings without damaging the essential services the government says it will preserve.
