Puerto Rico Government Reaches Deal to End Budget Crisis

Late on day 10 of the budget impasse that crippled Puerto Rico since May 1, Gov. Anibal Acevedo Vila and the leaders of Puerto Rico´s Senate and House of Representatives agreed to accept the recommendations of a special 4-member commission charged with formulating a plan to end the fiscal crisis.

The agreement will allow Puerto Rico to borrow $740 million to pay government salaries through June 30.

Repayment will come through a series of legislative measures not yet passed that could include the introduction of Puerto Rico´s first-ever sales tax.

Furloughed government employees –almost 100,00- are expected to return to work today as are half a million students in 1,600 public schools.

Although tourism remained largely unaffected during the shutdown, tourism officials provided a daily update on the destination´s Web site (www.gotopuertorico.com) to reassure visitors that services were operating as normal.