Fricson Vinicio George Tenorio, Dalys Roxana Castro Bustamante, Mario Alfredo Fernández SolÃs
Local government administrative management faces increasing pressures in fiscal crisis scenarios, particularly in territories where reduced national transfers limit operational capacity and public service delivery. This study analyzes the administrative management models and local governance practices of the Municipal Decentralized Autonomous Government (GAD) of Arenillas, Ecuador, during the 2023–2024 period. Its purpose is to identify the main constraints, assess citizen perceptions of service quality, and propose institutional optimization strategies. A mixed-methods, descriptive, and cross-sectional design was used, integrating citizen surveys, semi-structured interviews with municipal officials, and documentary analysis of regulations, budgets, and institutional processes. Results show intermediate satisfaction levels regarding transparency, citizen participation, and administrative efficiency, alongside persistent bureaucratic practices, weaknesses in institutional communication, and limitations derived from fiscal reductions. Qualitative findings highlight gaps in technological modernization, limited process systematization, and weak alignment between planning and execution. These outcomes are contrasted with contemporary frameworks of New Public Management, digital government, and collaborative governance. The study concludes that strengthening organizational culture, expanding participatory mechanisms, digitalizing procedures, and improving inter-institutional coordination are key to consolidating efficient municipal management. The research provides contextualized evidence to guide local policy actions in settings characterized by fiscal constraints.
This study examines budget management in the Decentralized Autonomous Governments (GADs) at the parish level, emphasizing the importance of transparency in public resource administration as a mechanism to promote accountability and prevent corruption. The main objective was to apply budgetary indicators to the Tacamoros Parish GAD, located in Sozoranga, Loja Province, during the fiscal periods 2021–2022, in order to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of budget allocations. A quantitative and descriptive approach was adopted, employing data collection and analysis tools based on the guidelines of the Organic Code of Territorial Organization, Autonomy, and Decentralization (COOTAD) and the Organic Code of Planning and Public Finance (COPFP). The results reveal that the budget cycle achieved a confidence level of 82.93%, with an associated risk of 17.07%. Likewise, revenue execution compared to the programmed figures reached 49.13% in 2021 and 69.15% in 2022, while expenditure execution was 59.47% in 2021 and 50.33% in 2022. The study concludes that strengthening long-term strategic planning and promoting greater financial autonomy in parish-level GADs are essential to ensure more efficient budget management for the benefit of the community.