Maverick County Concerned Taxpayers raise sufficient valid signatures to call Election on $8.5 Million Bonds sought by Commissioners Court

By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2017

Maverick County concerned taxpayers raised sufficient valid signatures to call for a special election to determine whether to approve up to $8.5 Million in Certificates of Obligation (Bonds) previously approved by Maverick County Commissioners Court in late 2016 as County Elections Administrator Roy Schmerber announced that a total of 2,040 signatures were submitted by petition with 1,488 signatures verified as valid, satisfying the required number of 1,411 signatures to call for the election.

Maverick County Bond Legal Counsel William Avila of San Antonio, Texas advised Maverick County Commissioners Court that under the Certificates of Obligations Act, Maverick County Commissioners Court may decide to hold the special election on the $8.5 Million Bonds or withdraw the request for the Bonds overall without holding an election.

Maverick County Commissioner Precinct 1 Jerry Morales made a motion to hold a special meeting on Friday, February 17, 2017 (at 5 P.M.) to determine whether to call a special election on the $8.5 Million in Bonds and County Commissioner Precinct 3 Pete Venegas seconded the motion.  During discussion, County Commissioner Precinct 2 Rosy Cantu stated that she welcomed the special election on the $8.5 Million in Bonds while County Commissioner Precinct 3 Pete Venegas added that “we will be ready for this election.” County Commissioner Precinct 4 Roberto Ruiz stated that he hopes that concerned Maverick County taxpayers also look at other local governmental tax entities with similar rollback petitions as they did with Maverick County.

Maverick County Judge David R. Saucedo stated during discussion that many signers of the rollback petition on the $8.5 Million Bonds had been misinformed on the purpose of what they were signing for and believed they were signing something good for the County, but after speaking with Judge Saucedo learned that it may not be good for the County.

Although Maverick County Commissioners Court may decide to withdraw the request for the issuance of the up to $8.5 Million in Certificates of Obligations (Bonds) without calling the special election, it appears that Commissioners Court may be inclined to give the concerned Maverick County taxpayers the special election by their statements viewing the petition as a political challenge between the signatories of the petition and the political forces of Maverick County Commissioners Court on what voters really want for Maverick County.

The decision on whether to hold the special election on the $8.5 Million in Bonds or to withdraw the request for the issuance of the $8.5 Million in Certificates of Obligations (Bonds) will more than likely be determined at Friday, February 17th, special meeting, which is certain to be packed with sympathizers from both political forces.