$118 million authorized to settle Special Education obligations

On July 2, 2026, NotiCel reports that Governor Jenniffer González Colón announced the approval of $118 million, of public money, to settle the obligations of the Special Education Program, including accumulated debts and current fiscal year 2026 obligations. The Office of Management and Budget said the Financial Oversight and Management Board approved the transfer of those funds to the Department of Education.

Jenniffer González Colón indicated, according to the outlet, that thanks to savings of more than $632 million from the prior budget, OGP was able to identify funds to cover payments to more than 122 providers who offer essential services to students in the Program. Monitoring of budget execution, according to La Fortaleza via NotiCel, made it possible to identify $118 million in savings and available balances in 73 agencies. OGP then filed the reallocation request. The approval, the note adds, confirms that it was possible to meet those obligations without additional budget appropriations, without affecting the operations of the originating agencies, and while preserving the balance of the FY2026 Budget certified by the Board.

Orlando C. Rivera Berríos, OGP director, said this result confirms that the FY2026 Budget remained balanced and that it is now time to work on structural solutions for the Program's sustainability in fiscal year 2027 and the years after. That is his reading. On July 1, Ey Boricua had put the 2025-2026 surplus at $635 million. NotiCel, a day later, speaks of savings of more than $632 million. Two releases, two figures. They are not averaged. This magazine does not pick a winner.

This transfer does not rewrite the imposed budget that NotiCel covered on July 1, 2026, with special education among the lines of the imposition. An imposed budget and a $118 million transfer are two acts. On July 24, the same NotiCel covered complaints of delays in paying for services to special-education students; that complaint is later. Here the fact is July 2: $118 million, 73 agencies, more than 122 providers. The reader who wants La Fortaleza's announcement has the NotiCel URL at the foot.

Source: NotiCel. https://noticel.com/ultima-hora/20260702/autorizan-el-uso-de-118-millones-para-saldar-obligaciones-del-programa-de-educacion-especial/