Chihuahua City’s Patrol Car Spending Under Scrutiny: Lease vs. Purchase Debate
Chihuahua City, Mexico – A financial discrepancy in the acquisition of patrol cars has ignited a heated debate in Chihuahua, with Ciudad Juárez Mayor Cruz Pérez Cuéllar exposing what he describes as an exorbitant expenditure by Chihuahua City’s administration, led by Mayor Marco Bonilla. Pérez Cuéllar alleges that Chihuahua City paid three times more for leased patrol vehicles than Ciudad Juárez did for outright purchases, raising serious questions about public spending and patrimonial responsibility.
The Unveiling of Discrepancies: Purchase vs. Lease
During his weekly press conference on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, Mayor Pérez Cuéllar presented data highlighting the stark contrast in procurement strategies. Ciudad Juárez opted for a direct purchase model, integrating 170 new units into the municipal patrimony for a total investment of 213,505,177 pesos. This translates to an average cost of 1,255,325 pesos per patrol car.
In stark contrast, Chihuahua City entered into a leasing agreement for 154 patrol cars, committing approximately 634 million pesos. This scheme results in an average cost per unit of 4,120,779 pesos – more than triple the amount paid by Ciudad Juárez. A critical point of contention is that, upon the conclusion of the leasing contract, these vehicles will not become part of the municipal assets, leaving the city without a tangible return on its substantial investment.
The Per Capita Burden: Juárez vs. Chihuahua City
The financial impact extends to the citizens, with a significant difference in per capita costs:
- Ciudad Juárez: Each resident contributes approximately 141 pesos towards the acquisition of new units.
- Chihuahua City: The cost per resident soars to 677 pesos, more than four times higher than in Ciudad Juárez.
“The difference is not only in the total amount, but also in the acquisition model,” emphasized Pérez Cuéllar, underscoring the administrative efficiency demonstrated by his administration.
Security Strategy and Results
Pérez Cuéllar reiterated that his administration has successfully integrated over 114 new patrol cars through this direct investment strategy. He asserted that this mechanism has efficiently and transparently bolstered police equipment, contributing to positive outcomes in local security. He concluded by stating that these comparisons are crucial for citizens to understand the responsible use of public resources in security matters.
Morena Alleges Corruption in Chihuahua City
Adding fuel to the fire, Hugo González Muñiz, president of the State Council of Morena and a city councilor, denounced the high cost of patrol cars in Chihuahua City as an “evident act of corruption” under Mayor Marco Bonilla’s management. González Muñiz echoed Pérez Cuéllar’s figures, emphasizing that while Ciudad Juárez gained 170 patrol cars as municipal property for just over 213 million pesos, Chihuahua City committed 634,766,916 pesos for a smaller fleet of 154 units through a leasing arrangement.
The Morena leader stressed that Chihuahua City’s model is not only more expensive but also lacks a patrimonial vision:
- Cost per unit: Juárez averages 1.2 million pesos, while Chihuahua City reaches 4.1 million pesos.
- Cost per inhabitant: The impact on Juárez residents is 141.24 pesos per person, compared to 677 pesos for each Chihuahua City resident – a fivefold increase.
González Muñiz highlighted that upon contract completion, Ciudad Juárez will possess its own fleet, whereas Chihuahua City “will not have a single unit that forms part of the municipal patrimony.”
“In Juárez, the police are strengthened, and public patrimony is built. In Chihuahua City, an onerous scheme was chosen that benefits private suppliers and not the citizenry; it is a model that compromises future resources,” González Muñiz asserted. He concluded by emphasizing that this disparity is not merely technical but a matter of administrative responsibility, arguing that Chihuahua residents’ taxes deserve better application than being trapped in “millionaire rents” that fail to generate assets for the city.
Unanswered Questions and Calls for Accountability
This investigation into the patrol car procurement raises several critical questions:
- Why did Chihuahua City opt for a significantly more expensive leasing model that does not build municipal assets, compared to Ciudad Juárez’s direct purchase?
- What specific justifications were provided for the substantial price difference per unit between the two cities?
- What measures are in place to ensure transparency and prevent potential conflicts of interest in public procurement processes in Chihuahua City?
- How will Chihuahua City address the long-term implications of a leasing model that leaves the municipality without ownership of essential public safety assets?
As the debate intensifies, citizens and political figures alike are demanding greater transparency and accountability from Chihuahua City’s administration regarding its public spending decisions. The stark contrast in patrol car acquisition strategies between the two major cities in Chihuahua serves as a potent example of differing approaches to fiscal responsibility and community asset building.
Source: https://politico.mx/2026/02/25/gastadera-chihuahua-paga-el-triple-en-patrullas-que-ciudad-juarez/
