A report by the Tribunal de Contas do Estado do Amazonas (TCE-AM) has raised serious concerns regarding the budgeting and transparency of the Sou Manaus Passo a Paço 2025 festival. According to the findings, the allocated funds for the festival skyrocketed from R$ 2 million in 2022 to over R$ 25 million for 2025, marking a staggering increase of 1,150%. This dramatic surge in financial allocation has prompted scrutiny, especially in the absence of sufficient technical studies justifying such a raise or demonstrating appropriate social returns.

Moreover, the report highlights significant transparency issues, noting that essential documents such as contracts, bidding processes, commitment notes, and payment orders associated with the festival have not been made readily available to the public. This lack of disclosure violates the transparency principles outlined in the Brazilian Constitution and the Access to Information Law. The Ministry of Public Accounts has pointed out that the absence of clear and comprehensive information undermines public trust and accountability in managing public funds, especially as resources are allocated to popular festivals while other important public needs remain unmet.

The implications of these findings are substantial, as they call into question the governance practices surrounding public event financing in Brazil. The massive increase in funding for the festival raises alarms about fiscal responsibility and could lead to public protests or demands for reform in budget allocation procedures. As such, it presents an opportunity for the government to cultivate a more transparent and responsible approach to public spending, ensuring that accountability is prioritized in the management of state resources.