Costa Rica budget cuts science monitoring 598M CRC, boosts presidency comms 16.8%

Costa Rica's 2027 budget proposal cuts ₡598 million from seismic, volcanic, and meteorological monitoring agencies while increasing the Ministry of Communication's audiovisual equipment budget and the Presidency's budget by nearly 16.8%. Legislators are questioning the prioritization of communication spending over scientific monitoring, which is critical for disaster preparedness in a seismically active country. The shift signals a potential reduction in early-warning capacity amid a political debate over resource allocation.