Schools closed. Building permits were on hold. Renewing a driver’s license was impossible.

Many basic functions of Puerto Rico’s government were unavailable Monday as the U.S. commonwealth ran out of money and imposed a partial public-sector shutdown – putting nearly 100,000 people – including 40,000 teachers – out of work and granting an unscheduled holiday to 500,000 public school students.

The shutdown – the first in Puerto Rico’s history – happened despite last-minute attempts by members of the legislature and Gov. Anibal Acevedo Vila to agree on a bailout plan.

Police and other emergency services were not affected, but dozens of public offices were either shuttered or partially closed. Hundreds of government employees stood in the rain outside the capitol to protest the politicians’ failure to avoid the shutdown, and to try to spur them into resolving the impasse.

Puerto Rico is saddled with a $740 million budget shortfall because the legislature and the governor have been unable to agree on a spending plan since 2004.