Comondú Mayor Roberto Pantoja Castro has confirmed that his municipality carries nearly 1.8 billion pesos (approximately $90 million USD) in debt to federal agencies, making it the most indebted municipality in all of Baja California Sur. The mayor called the accumulated debt “practically unpayable” and said it was inherited largely from previous administrations.
Creditors include the federal Treasury (Hacienda) and ISSSTE, the social security institute for government workers. Pantoja Castro said his administration has signed payment agreements with federal agencies to prevent the debt from growing further, though the path to clearing it remains uncertain.
CONAGUA Deal Could Clear 90 Million Pesos
The most concrete step toward relief is a proposed deal with CONAGUA, Mexico’s National Water Commission, that would eliminate 90 million pesos (roughly $4.5 million USD) in water-related debt by February 2027. While that figure represents only about 5% of the total, it would remove one of the municipality’s most pressing obligations.
Comondú’s financial strain is not limited to legacy debt. According to reporting by Semanario ZETA in December 2025, the municipality also took out a short-term bank loan of 44 million pesos to cover year-end payroll obligations, including aguinaldos (annual bonuses) and salaries for nearly 1,000 municipal employees. The original plan had been to borrow 30 million pesos, but that figure rose to 44 million.
What This Means for the Comondú Region
The Comondú municipality covers a large stretch of central Baja California Sur, including Ciudad Constitución and the port town of San Carlos on the Pacific coast. With a population of roughly 75,000, the region depends heavily on agriculture and fishing. A municipality under this level of financial pressure faces real constraints on road maintenance, water system repairs, and public services.
Comondú was not alone in seeking emergency credit. Mulegé and Los Cabos also approved short-term loans, and the three municipalities together accounted for nearly 400 million pesos in new borrowing. But Comondú’s legacy debt dwarfs that of its neighbors.
Pantoja Castro has framed the situation as one he inherited rather than created, a common refrain from incoming Mexican mayors who take office and discover accumulated liabilities. Whether the CONAGUA agreement and payment plans can prevent a deeper fiscal crisis remains to be seen.
This story was first reported by BCS Noticias.