Friburgo Auto Ônibus (FAOL), the public transport operator in Nova Friburgo, says the city owes it R$4,389,208.55 in municipal subsidy payments. In a statement released on Tuesday, November 3, the company said delayed and partial payments have affected its cash flow and financial planning.
The operator said the subsidy is essential to maintaining services and warned that continued payment problems could eventually affect passengers. No changes to bus schedules or services have been announced.
The city disputes the claim that subsidy payments are overdue. It says transfers are up to date through September 2026, with a partial payment already made for October. The municipality also said FAOL received more than R$3.6 million in transfers between October 26 and 30.
According to the city, part of the R$4.3 million claimed by the company relates to an adjustment in compensation per kilometer driven, rather than late subsidy payments. The municipality said FAOL submitted its administrative request for the adjustment in June 2026, although the city believed it should have been filed in January. The request was approved, and the city says the adjustment amounts are being paid regularly.
The municipality said the operator receives more than R$6 million a month from fares and the subsidy combined. It also said FAOL has not provided sufficient technical, accounting and financial evidence to show that this amount is inadequate to cover the services it provides.
The city says the subsidy helps keep passenger fares below the full cost of providing the service. It also argues that the company’s financial difficulties cannot be attributed solely to the municipality, since maintaining the contract’s financial balance depends on both parties. The dispute over the amount owed remained unresolved at the time of the report.
Sources: G1.