Members of the state Electoral Institute Board approved Thursday transferring 80.3 million pesos or $4.4 million to cover several expenses incurred during the June midterm election.
The item also included a bonus for employees and board members. However, the bonus was not approved after several hours of discussion.
Board Member Helga Casanova explained that 10.4 million pesos will be used to cover expenses incurred until next month for 158 employees that will keep on working until December.
She also went on to say that most of those funds will serve for maintenance and services for the second semester of 2016.
An item to increase the institute’s budget for 69.9 million pesos was also approved.
Casanova said most of those funds will go towards political parties’ expenses and payment for 97 additional permanent employees.
Board Chair Javier Garay rejected the proposal to pay a bonus to its members.
Board members approved a resolution to instruct the Executive Clerk to determine if the bonus complies with state law.
Births decrease reported at state hospital
A public health official said authorities have observed during the first half of the year a 10 percent decrease in births at the Maternal Infant Hospital, located in eastern Mexicali, allegedly due to family planning promotion.
Secretary of Public Health Guillermo Trejo said between January and June of 2015 the hospital reported 2,987 births while during the same period of this year 2,692 babies have been born at the site.
The monthly average went down from 497 to 448 in a year.
Hospital Director José Rojas said this is the very first time a birth decreased has been reported since the hospital opened five years ago. However, he said the largest number of births is observed during the months of August, September and October.
Authorities said this hospital is one of two statewide that report the largest number of births annually.
The officials said the decrease might be due to mothers accepting birth control methods of medium and long term, as well as the definite ones.
In 2013 the hospital total births diminished 5 percent compared to the year before, while in 2014 the decrease was 8 percent and last year it was only 2 percent.
After delivery, mothers are educated regarding the different type of methods of birth control, authorities said.
Rocky mountain fever death toll reported
A state public health official said the number of confirmed and fatal cases of people with rocky mountain fever decreased this year compared to 2015.
Secretary of Public Health Guillermo Trejo said last year authorities reported 60 confirmed cases and 18 death residents due to the illness also known as rickettsia.
This year, he added, the state has reported 26 confirmed cases and six fatalities.
Trejo led an event to educate Ejido Francisco Murguía and Kilómetro 57 residents about the sickness that has killed over 100 state residents during the decade.
Authorities also fumigated several town areas along with other public agencies and non-profit organizations.
Trejo asked residents to get rid of abandoned furniture and to keep their pets clean, especially dogs.
