JUNTA DE SUPERVISIÓN Y ADMINISTRACIÓN FINANCIERA

PARA PUERTO RICO

                                                                                   Miembros
Andrew G. Biggs
Carlos M. García
Arthur J. González
José R. González
Ana J. Matosantos
David A. Skeel, Jr.
José B. Carrión III
Presidente Natalie A. Jaresko
Directora Ejecutiva

POR CORREO ELECTRÓNICO

29 de mayo de 2019

Honorable Wanda Vázquez Garced

Secretaria
Departamento de Justicia
Gobierno de Puerto Rico

Estimada Secretaria Vázquez Garced:

Por algún tiempo la Junta de Supervisión ha estado preocupada por la incapacidad de entidades
gubernamentales y municipios de cumplir con la Ley 106-2017, en particular al no remitir las
retenciones individuales de nómina de empleados a la cuenta de retiro de contribución definida
de los empleados. Las retenciones provenientes de la nómina de los empleados designadas para
sus cuentas de retiro de contribución definida deben ser sacrosantas. Gobiernos anteriores no
honraron este principio, de la manera más escandalosa en el caso de Sistema 2000 mediante el
cual el gobierno estableció cuentas de retiro para empleados, los empleados contribuyeron de su
propio dinero a esas cuentas y el gobierno usó esos fondos para otros propósitos sin reembolsarle
a las cuentas de retiro de Sistema 2000.

La Ley 106-2017 reconoció el error de esta conducta pasada disponiendo para que los oficiales
que, a sabiendas y sin justa causa, fallaran en remitir las contribuciones de los empleados a sus
cuentas de contribución definida pudieran estar sujetos a penalidades significativas bajo la
Ley 106-2017. Le escribimos porque ahora tenemos información que corrobora nuestras
preocupaciones acerca de las retenciones individuales de nómina de empleados que creemos
amerita su atención inmediata.

El 30 de abril de 2019 le escribimos al Principal Oficial Financiero, Raúl Maldonado Gautier, y

al Administrador de la Junta de Retiro, Luis Collazo Rodríguez, con relación informe de “PayGo
and Individual Contribution Debt by Entity”, con fecha del 31 de marzo 2019, el cual AAFAF
sometió a la Junta de Supervisión. En nuestra carta del 30 de abril, expresamos nuestras
preocupaciones sobre la aparente inhabilidad de entidades gubernamentales y municipios de
cumplir con la Ley 106-2017, en particular al no remitir las retenciones individuales de nómina

PO Box 192018 San Juan, PR 00919-2018; www.oversightboard.pr.gov; comments@oversightboard.pr.gov

Honorable Wanda Vázquez Garced
29 de mayo de 2019
Página 2 de 2 

de empleados a las cuentas de retiro de contribución definida de los empleados. Solicitamos que
la Junta de Retiro confirmara para el 10 de mayo de 2019 que todas las deudas pendientes de
retenciones individuales de nómina de empleados se pondrían al día dentro de los 10 días
laborables subsiguientes.

El 10 de mayo de 2019, el Principal Oficial Financiero, Raúl Maldonado Gautier, y el

Administrador de la Junta de Retiro, Luis Collazo Rodríguez, enviaron una carta a la Junta de
Supervisión confirmado que las entidades gubernamentales y municipios morosos habían sido
notificados de acuerdo con el Artículo 3.5 de la Ley 106-2017 que indica que las deudas de
retenciones de empleados deben saldarse.

Basado en información provista por el Administrador de la Junta de Retiro, al 29 de mayo de

2019, restaban 14 entidades gubernamentales y municipios sin cumplir con la Ley 106-2017 al
no remitir las retenciones individuales de nómina de empleados a las cuentas de retiro de
contribución definida de los empleados. Esto a pesar de numerosos intentos de la Junta de
Supervisión y la Administración de Retiro a lo largo del pasado año de lograr que estas entidades
salden sus deudas de retención de nómina de empleados.

El tiempo de rendición de cuentas se acabó cuando la primera entidad incumplió con remitir la
retención de nómina de empleados y no lo remedió dentro de un periodo razonable de tiempo.
Pero evidentemente cualesquiera procesos y procedimientos administrativos que el Gobierno ha
seguido para corregir esta situación han sido inadecuados. Por lo tanto, le referimos este asunto
para que investigue posibles violaciones a la Ley 106-2017.1 Confiamos en que tratará este
asunto con la seriedad y la urgencia que merece.

Sinceramente,

Natalie A. Jaresko

CC: Christian Sobrino Vega

Raúl Maldonado Gautier
Luis Collazo Rodríguez

Anejos.

                                                       
1
 Además, como esta conducta pudiera también constituir una violación de ley federal aplicable, e.g., 18 U.S.C. 
666(a)(1)(A), estamos refiriendo este asunto también a las autoridades federales apropiadas. 

PO Box 192018 San Juan, PR 00919-2018; www.oversightboard.pr.gov; comments@oversightboard.pr.gov

 Attachment A

FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT AND MANAGEMENT BOARD

FOR PUERTO RICO
                                                                                   Members
Andrew G. Biggs
Carlos M. García
Arthur J. González
José R. González
Ana J. Matosantos
David A. Skeel, Jr.
José B. Carrión III
Chair Natalie A. Jaresko
Executive Director

BY ELECTRONIC MAIL

April 30, 2019

The Honorable Raúl Maldonado Gautier, Esq., CPA

Chief Financial Officer
Government of Puerto Rico

Mr. Luis Collazo Rodríguez

Administrator & Executive Director
Retirement Board & Employees Retirement System
Government of Puerto Rico

Dear Secretary Maldonado Gautier and Executive Director Collazo Rodríguez,

I write to you regarding the latest “PayGo and Individual Contribution Debt by Entity” report (the
“Report”) submitted monthly by AAFAF to the Oversight Board. The Report lists all pension
PayGo fees owed by municipalities and public corporations to the central government for the
payment of retiree pension benefits.

Decades of fiscal mismanagement decimated Puerto Rico’s pension funds. When the Oversight
Board and the current Government began their work, a PayGo system was implemented to ensure
adequate funding of pensions in accordance with PROMESA. Maintaining funding of pension
benefits for all retirees is one of the Oversight Board’s highest priorities and something the Board
remains dedicated to preserving. That is why we are very concerned with the repeated practice of
non-transfer of employee contributions that are required to be set aside, as well as the failure of
many municipalities and public corporations to remit their required monthly PayGo fees. The
PayGo system is predicated on the assumption that all entities will cover the cost for their retirees.
The Oversight Board will continue to make sure pensions are adequately funded, but the
Government must also take immediate action to curtail the current situation and resolve these
overdue debts.

  PO Box 192018 San Juan, PR 00919‐2018; www.oversightboard.pr.gov; comments@oversightboard.pr.gov 
 
Hon. Maldonado Gautier
Mr. Collazo Rodríguez
April 30, 2019
Page 2 of 4
 
Section 1.6(g) of Act 106-2017 mandates that all participating municipalities and public
corporations in Puerto Rico’s Employee Retirement System must pay the PayGo fee. Section
2.1(f) also clearly states every government entity shall earmark the funds needed for the payment
of the PayGo fee in their annual general fund budgets. Yet the Report indicates that there is
approximately $340 million in accrued debt from 28 public corporations and 66 municipalities
since implementation of the PayGo system in 2017. This shortfall includes both failures by
municipalities and public corporations to make the required PayGo charge as well as failures to
remit individual employee payroll withholdings, which are intended to be deposited in individual
retirement accounts being established in those employees’ names.

Among the entities that have failed to pay the PayGo fee for their retirees and, as a result, accrued
the largest debts due to the central government, are the municipalities of San Juan ($72 mm), Ponce
($10 mm), Carolina ($8 mm), and Toa Baja ($6 mm) as well as the public corporations PRASA
($67 mm), the Ports Authority ($31 mm), and the State Insurance Fund ($24 mm). A list of
municipalities and public corporations that have accrued at least $1 million in PayGo debt is listed
below.

Public corporations and municipalities that owe at least $1.0 mm in PayGo Debt

Public Corporations Municipalities

Entity ($ ths) FY2018 FY2019 Total Entity ($ ths) FY2018 FY2019 Total
PRASA $4,645 $62,771 $67,416 San Juan $34,902 $37,536 $72,438
Puerto Rico Ports Authority 22,686 7,829 30,514 Ponce 4,652 5,184 9,837
State Insurance Fund 6,649 17,193 23,843 Carolina 2,057 6,252 8,309
PR Industrial Development Co. 9,025 6,636 15,661 Toa Baja 3,388 2,535 5,923
Metropolitan Bus Authority 13,588 - 13,588 Mayaguez 2,593 3,101 5,693
Admin. of Agrigultural Dvlp & Services 902 7,700 8,602 Guaynabo - 5,603 5,603
Highway and Transportation Authority 2,488 2,141 4,629 Arecibo 2,947 2,407 5,354
Medical Services Adminstration (ASEM 4,614 - 4,614 Bayamón - 4,222 4,222
Office of the Controller 3,912 - 3,912 Caguas 3,335 557 3,892
Agricultural Extension Service - 3,271 3,271 Cayey 1,304 1,126 2,431
Puerto Rico Trade and Export Co. 2,303 781 3,085 Cabo Rojo 730 851 1,581
CRIM 1,677 1,278 2,955 Santa Isabel 727 609 1,336
Puerto Rico Land Authority 2,021 - 2,021 San Sebastian 35 1,095 1,130
Public Building Authority - 1,899 1,899 Total $56,671 $71,079 $127,750
Auto Accident Compensation Admin - 1,069 1,069 Other Municipalities $4,659 $10,446 $15,105
Total $74,511 $112,567 $187,078
Other Public Corporations $1,296 $696 $1,991

It is also very troubling that 20 municipalities and seven public corporations are also not remitting
individual employee payroll withholdings for that employee’s defined contribution retirement
account. These are deductions taken from employee paychecks and must be remitted to a
segregated defined contribution account on that employee’s behalf. By withholding that transfer,
officers of those entities might be in violation of Article 3.5(2)(b) of Act 106-2017. The entities
that accumulated the largest individual employee payroll withholding debts are listed below.

PO Box 192018 San Juan, PR 00919‐2018; www.oversightboard.pr.gov; comments@oversightboard.pr.gov 
Hon. Maldonado Gautier
Mr. Collazo Rodríguez
April 30, 2019
Page 3 of 4
 
Public corporations and municipalities with more than $150k in individual employee payroll
withholding debt

Public Corporations Municipalities

Entity ($ ths) FY 2018 FY 2019 Total Entity ($ ths) FY 2018 FY 2019 Total
Metropolitan Bus Authority $852 $1,054 $1,906 Ponce $1,985 $1,468 $3,453
Highway and Transport. Authority - 406 406 Arecibo 929 198 1,127
Correctional Health - 205 205 Villalba 237 128 366
Maritime Transportation Authority - 100 100 Vieques 59 216 275
Integrated Transit Authority - 11 11 Guánica 131 87 218
Agricultural Insurance Company - 7 7 Río Grande - 220 220
Higher Education Council - 7 7 Patillas 43 128 171
Total $852 $1,791 $2,643 Yauco 39 207 246
Arroyo 23 160 184
Maricao 99 70 168
Total $3,545 $2,883 $6,428
Other Municipalities $1 $328 $329

The responsible payment by all employers of all PayGo fees is essential to ensure that retirees and
beneficiaries continue receiving their pension benefits moving forward. Section 16 of the certified
Fiscal Plan assumes PayGo costs will be fully covered and paid by each respective entity.
Therefore, there are no General Fund or other appropriations in the certified Budget to fund PayGo
benefits for non-paying municipalities and public corporations without prompt reimbursement by
them. Continued payment of retirement benefits without reimbursement from these employers is
an unauthorized expenditure under the certified Budget and every effort must be taken to collect
these delinquent debts or offset these incremental unbudgeted expenses within other areas of the
budget.

As contemplated in Section 3.2 of Act 106-2017, remedial action must be taken immediately to
rectify this situation and secure repayment for these overdue amounts. For example, if the
Government does not believe efforts to collect the PayGo fee from non-contributing municipalities
and public corporations will be successful, central government payments to those entities, or
spending elsewhere in the certified Budget, will need to be adjusted such that these costs are
properly budgeted and the pension payments can continue to be made.

Accordingly, the Retirement Board, its designee, or the Managing Entity shall certify the debt of
each delinquent entity and request in writing that:

 The Secretary of the Treasury adjust the accounts, obligations, and advances that the
Department of the Treasury must otherwise remit to the delinquent employer, and transfer
the full amount of the delinquent PayGo fee from the appropriate account;

 The Office of Management and Budget start withholding the necessary amounts from
appropriations made to agencies of the Government of Puerto Rico, such as transfers to the
Integrated Transit Authority, DDEC and Agriculture, among others;

PO Box 192018 San Juan, PR 00919‐2018; www.oversightboard.pr.gov; comments@oversightboard.pr.gov 
Hon. Maldonado Gautier
Mr. Collazo Rodríguez
April 30, 2019
Page 4 of 4
 
 Within 7 days, instruct the Municipal Revenue Collection Center (CRIM) to remit the
delinquent amounts of the PayGo fees owing by all delinquent municipal employers from
the unencumbered balance of the property tax and other revenues that the municipalities
are otherwise entitled to receive in accordance with Act No. 80-1991, as amended, known
as the “Municipal Revenue Collection Center Act.” Additionally, in accordance with
Section 3.5(2)(a)(iii), instruct CRIM to place an automatic and permanent preferred
statutory lien over the unencumbered balance in favor of the Retirement Board and/or
Managing Entity until the delinquent amount has been repaid.

To ensure sufficient action is taken, the Oversight Board requires the Retirement Board provide
the following information:

 By May 10, a list of the dollar amount of unrestricted bank account balances at each entity
delinquent in paying its PayGo fees;

 By May 10, confirmation that all individual employee payroll withholding debts will be
settled within 10 business days, consistent with Section 3.5(2)(b) of Act 106-2017;

 By May 31, a detailed plan for each delinquent municipality and public corporation on how
these overdue payments will be collected. This must include the timeline to enter into
payment plans and dates when all of the requirements above will be completed; and

 By May 31, an explanation of actions being taken to prevent the continued accrual of
PayGo debts for each participating entity going forward.

All government entities must settle their overdue PayGo fees and individual employee payroll
withholding with the utmost of urgency and no later than the deadlines set forth above.

Sincerely,

Natalie A. Jaresko

CC: Christian Sobrino Vega

PO Box 192018 San Juan, PR 00919‐2018; www.oversightboard.pr.gov; comments@oversightboard.pr.gov 
Attachment B
 Attachment C

INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTION DEBT

DEBT AND PAYMENT COLLECTIONS AS OF MAY 29 2019

TOTAL TOTAL
CÓDIGO PATRONO GRAN TOTAL PAGOS IN PROCESS BALANCE
2017-2018 2018-2019
205 Autoridad Metropolitana Autobuses 851,911.89 1,221,214.30 $ 2,073,126.19 $ 2,073,126.19
307 Municipio Arecibo 928,854.25 363,431.10 1,292,285.35 166,883.40 1,125,401.95
308 Municipio Arroyo 23,382.48 180,236.78 203,619.26 178,790.06 24,829.20
319 Municipio Ciales 1,354.39 143,114.50 144,468.89 144,468.89
327 Municipio Guanica 134,443.46 97,413.61 231,857.07 231,857.07
346 Municipio Maricao 98,585.74 78,297.87 176,883.61 176,883.61
351 Municipio Naguabo - 17,319.44 17,319.44 - 17,319.44
356 Municipio Ponce 1,985,001.11 1,680,743.87 3,665,744.98 3,435,776.55 - 229,968.43
373 Municipio Vieques 58,618.30 243,308.11 301,926.41 125,691.22 176,235.19
374 Municipio Villalba 237,120.58 128,494.68 365,615.26 254,817.59 110,797.67
375 Municipio Yabucoa - 89,376.60 89,376.60 89,376.60
376 Municipio Yauco 39,048.04 242,277.50 281,325.54 280,681.58 643.96
502 Autoridad Transporte Marítimo - 46,283.15 46,283.15 46,283.15
509 Autoridad de Transporte Integrado - 13,668.56 13,668.56 8,800.05 4,868.51
TOTALES $ 4,358,320.24 $ 4,545,180.07 $ 8,903,500.31 $ 4,451,440.45 $ - $ 4,452,059.86