This paper discusses whether the local government’s instability due to mayor removals may hinder fiscal adjustment actions facing a budgetary retrenchment. In coalition government systems, as seen in Brazil, the mayor needs Legislative support for unpopular and austere measures. In a situation in which the coalition is weakened by mayor removal, the new mayor struggles in approving such acts and measures. We have run expenditure cutbacks data during the recent Brazilian financial crisis, addressing more than 3000 municipalities in the last 4-year term, 2013-2016. The findings indicate that mayor removal processes interfere on city halls ability to implement cutbacks for fiscal adjustment.