Puerto Rico’s governor submitted a $9.8 billion budget proposal calling for $674 million in cuts amid the U.S. territory’s economic crisis, The Washington Post reported on Wednesday. Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla did not present the budget during a televised address as is traditional, opting instead to file it after legislators recessed for the day. Legislators will soon hold public hearings before the House of Representatives approves the budget and turns it over to the Senate. The budget has to be approved by June 30. “We are facing a historic fiscal crisis where the available resources are extremely limited,” the 56-page proposal states. The proposed budget seeks to set aside $1.5 billion to help pay off Puerto Rico’s debt, an increase of $400 million from last year’s budget. Officials also have said the governor wants to close 95 schools and 20 public agencies to cut costs.
