Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, October 27, 2026 — Councilor Melissa Madero has published allegations of municipal spending as Puerto Vallarta faces shrinking cemetery space and prepares for a busy Día de Muertos period.
For residents and businesses, the question this Tuesday is what needs attention before the holiday weekend arrives. Five developments deserve a closer look, from the records behind City Hall’s spending to assistance available for hotel employers and well users.
City Hall spending moves into sharper focus
Melissa Madero’s second activity report has moved beyond an announcement. In the first installment, she says her review identified 668 more active municipal positions than authorized for 2026, representing a projected cost difference of 151.9 million pesos.
Her review also covers 69.9 million pesos in municipal contracts. At DIF Vallarta, the municipal family welfare agency, she projects payroll spending above 94 million pesos, compared with its original annual budget of 120 million pesos.
“These are public resources that deserve transparency, explanations and accountability,” Madero said, according to Meridiano. The figures remain her findings and projections; they do not establish that money was misused.
Mayor Luis Munguía denied that the municipal payroll was inflated on August 31, while saying spending could be reviewed to redirect resources toward public services.
The developments to watch now are the supporting payroll and contract records, any budget changes explaining the differences, and the administration’s response to this week’s report. Those details will help residents assess how the disputed spending relates to the services their taxes support.
Cemetery capacity needs a timetable
Puerto Vallarta’s burial-space shortage is becoming more urgent as families prepare to visit cemeteries for Día de Muertos.
In an October 24 report on cemetery capacity, municipal cemetery chief Santos Aristóteles Mercado Orozco estimated that available space could last six to eight months. El Zancudo, the planned cemetery along State Highway 544, still had no formal opening date, according to his account.
Mercado Orozco said modifications within existing cemeteries could extend capacity to a year or a year and a half, including creating burial areas along internal routes and boundaries.
He also estimated more than 30,000 visits to the municipality’s five cemeteries on November 1 and 2. Preparations include cleaning, lighting, and access work, with murals planned at the cemetery in the 5 de Diciembre neighborhood.
For families, the outstanding issue extends beyond whether the grounds are ready for holiday visitors: when will El Zancudo begin accepting burials?
Hotels prepare for a near-full holiday period
Economic Promotion and Tourism Director Alejandra Cornejo forecasts hotel occupancy of about 95% during the coming Día de Muertos holiday period.
Cornejo also described airport welcome activities and the installation of 50 handmade catrinas along the Malecón, with participation from hotels, restaurants, and community organizations.
The occupancy figure forecasts the upcoming period. For example, a restaurant arranging shifts or ordering supplies can use that expectation to prepare, while checking its own reservations before committing to additional spending.
Residents coordinating plans with visiting friends or family can consult Vallarta Daily’s Day of the Dead calendar and cost guide, which includes the announced November 1 monumental Catrina unveiling and November 2 parade.
Hotel employers can request workplace workshops
As hotels prepare for more guests, the Municipal Women’s Institute is inviting additional properties to request its “Mental Health and Workplace Relations” workshop.
According to the institute, psychologist Dámaris Piñón de Anda has delivered sessions to 69 employees at Costa Club, Buenaventura Premier and Hacienda Buenaventura.
The sessions address mental health, interpersonal relationships and respectful communication. These are the program’s stated aims; the announcement reports participation rather than measured changes in workplace conditions.
Interested hotels can ask about scheduling by calling 322 596 1174 or emailing [email protected].
Well users have a direct route to Conagua
For people responsible for wells with expired water-extraction concessions, a recent Conagua assistance visit has brought the paperwork back onto the local agenda.
Ricardo Valdez Salas, an official with Conagua’s Lerma-Santiago-Pacific basin organization, has been identified as the representative who brought a mobile assistance counter to Puerto Vallarta.
Valdez said the regularization procedures discussed during the visit were free and that users could approach the agency directly without hiring an intermediary. He also said Conagua has no permanent office in Puerto Vallarta.
The recent visit does not provide a confirmed local counter schedule for Tuesday. Affected users can ask the regional office about eligibility, required documents, and future assistance visits at 33 3268 0200, extension 1264.
