Administrative Reform May Eliminate Secretariat and Change Top Ranks of Elizabeth Schmidt

The Prefeitura de Ponta Grossa could undergo a new administrative reform with significant changes in the governance structure of the prefeita Elizabeth Schmidt. Information obtained behind the scenes indicates that the municipal administration would be preparing a bill to extinguish the Municipal Secretariat of Strategic Projects and promote the merger of other portfolios, changing the distribution of functions and power spaces in the Executive.

Among the changes pointed out are the possible incorporation of the Municipal Secretariat of Family and Social Development to the Foundation of Social Assistance of Ponta Grossa (FASPG) and the integration of the Municipal Secretariat of Tourism to the Municipal Secretariat of Culture.

Although the proposal has not yet been officially confirmed, the possibility of reorganization draws attention to the political, administrative and budgetary reflexes it may provoke, especially in the composition of the first rank of the City Hall from 2027.

The Strategic Projects Department may be extinguished

The possible extinction of the Municipal Secretariat of Strategic Projects is one of the most relevant points of the reform under discussion behind the scenes.

Commanded by Edgar Hampf, the portfolio was created in 2025, at the beginning of the second term of Elizabeth Schmidt, with the aim of coordinating strategic initiatives and long-term projects for the municipality.

If the extinction is confirmed, one of the main doubts will be the political and administrative fate of Hampf, who occupies an important position in the government structure.

There is still no confirmed information about his eventual departure from the administration or transfer to another function. It is also not defined to which bodies the attributions currently performed by the secretariat would be referred.

The change may raise questions about the results achieved by the structure since its creation and about the reasons that would lead the administration to extinguish it in less than two years.

Another aspect involves the financial economy. The budget forecast of the Secretariat of Strategic Projects for 2027 is approximately R$ 943.5 thousand. However, this value does not necessarily represent the savings that would be obtained with the extinction, since servers, projects and expenses may be transferred to other structures.

Family and Social Work can be brought together in a single structure

Another change under analysis would be the union of the Municipal Secretariat of Family and Social Development with the Social Assistance Foundation of Ponta Grossa.

Currently, the secretariat is headed by Camila Calisto Sanches, while FASPG is chaired by Tatyana Belo.

The possible merger of the structures could lead to a concentration of tasks related to social assistance, social development and policies of care for the population.

One of the central issues will be the definition of the command of the new structure, should the proposal advance.

The Family Secretariat and FASPG have related competences, but have different administrative natures. While the former is part of the direct administration of the municipality, the foundation has its own legal personality within the indirect administration.

Therefore, the union would require legal changes and the definition of how the services, servers, contracts and programs currently developed by the two bodies would be organized.

The budgetary dimension also draws attention. By 2027, the resources provided for the Social Assistance Foundation reach approximately R$ 85.09 million, while the Secretariat of the Family has a forecast of R$ 43.29 million.

Added, the values exceed R$ 128 million, highlighting the importance of the structure that may result from the administrative reorganization.

Despite speculation, there is still no confirmation of possible changes in the positions held by Camila Calisto Sanches and Tatyana Belo.

Tourism can lose its own secretary and be incorporated into culture

The third change mentioned behind the scenes involves the possible merger of the Municipal Secretariat of Tourism with the Municipal Secretariat of Culture.

Currently headed by Paulo Stachowiak, Tourism would no longer have an independent secretariat, if its responsibilities were effectively incorporated into the Culture structure.

The amendment could represent an important change in the conduct of public policies aimed at the tourism promotion of Ponta Grossa.

Although tourism and culture have complementary areas of activity, the two portfolios also have their own characteristics.

Tourism works on issues related to attracting visitors, promoting destinations, developing tourism products, events and articulating investments. Culture has responsibilities linked to cultural heritage, artistic production, cultural manifestations and appreciation of local traditions.

The eventual integration may facilitate joint initiatives, but it will also provoke questions about the autonomy of the tourism sector and the maintenance of its programs.

Another point will be the political fate of Paulo Stachowiak, since there is still no confirmed information on who would take command of the structure resulting from the possible merger.

By 2027, the Ministry of Tourism has a budget forecast of approximately R$ 4.81 million, while Culture has R$ 22.68 million.

Reform can bring about redistribution of power in government

In addition to the administrative aspects, the possible reform could have direct consequences on the political articulation of the government Elizabeth Schmidt.

The extinction of secretariats and the unification of structures can reduce the number of first-level positions, causing changes in the composition of the team and in the distribution of responsibilities among members of the municipal administration.

It will also be necessary to observe how the proposal will be received by the councilors who form the foundation of the mayor in Câmara Municipal.

The scenario becomes relevant because the legislature is close to defining its new Executive Board for the 2027–2028 biennium, in an election scheduled for November 17.

Although there is no confirmation of the relationship between the two matters, a possible administrative reform could broaden the political discussions on the organization of the Executive and its relations with the Legislative.

Budget 2027 still provides for separate structures

The budget proposal presented by the City Council for the fiscal year 2027 still separately contemplates the five structures mentioned in the behind-the-scenes information.

The budget estimates of the Secretariat of the Family, Foundation of Social Assistance, Culture, Tourism and Strategic Projects reach approximately R$ 156.81 million.

This means that any reform may require administrative and budgetary adjustments, depending on the date of entry into force and the reorganization model chosen.

The reduction in the number of secretariats, however, does not necessarily mean a proportional decrease in public expenditure. Part of the resources will continue to be needed to maintain the services offered to the population.

Proposal will need to go through Câmara Municipal

If the project is formalized, the restructuring should go through the analysis of the Câmara Municipal de Ponta Grossa.

Councillors will be able to discuss the financial impacts, the redistribution of competences and the consequences of the extinction or merger of the structures.

The municipal administration must also clarify the destination of the servers, the positions eventually eliminated and the measures to ensure the continuity of services.

The City Hall has already promoted important changes in its structure during the second term of Elizabeth Schmidt, including the transformation of the Municipal Health Foundation into the Municipal Health Secretariat.

The possible new reform, if confirmed, may mark another stage of reorganization of the municipal government.

Changes still depend on official confirmation

To date, information on the extinction of the Secretariat of Strategic Projects and mergers involving Family, Social Welfare, Tourism and Culture remains in the political field.

There is no official confirmation about the definitive content of the project, the date of referral to the Chamber or the names that may occupy the positions after a possible restructuring.

The main point of attention will be to identify whether the proposal will have as its predominant objective the reduction of expenditure, the administrative integration or a wider reorganization of the first echelon.

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