Early Voting Period for Eagle Pass City Charter Amendments Election Starts April 23rd-May 1st

By: Miguel Munoz, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2018

The Early Voting Period for the City of Eagle Pass, Texas Special Election on six proposed City Charter Amendments commences on April 23, 2018 at 8 A.M.-5 P.M. and continues until Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at the City’s Multi-Purpose Center, located at 480 South Adams Street in Fort Duncan Park in downtown Eagle Pass.

On February 12, 2018, the Eagle Pass City Council approved to hold a Special Election on Saturday, May 5, 2018 to amend the City of Eagle Pass City Charter by placing six proposed amendments to the City Charter for Eagle Pass taxpayers to decide whether to approve or deny these proposed amendments. These six proposed City Charter Amendments are being made by the Mayor and City Council.

Among the six proposed City Charter Amendments to be voted on by taxpayers drawing the most interest is Proposition “B”whether to increase the compensation paid to the Mayor and City Council members from its current $10 per month to up to 60% of the City Manager’s annual salary for the Mayor and up to 40% of the City Manager’s salary for City Council members.  The City of Eagle Pass is currently advertising for the City Manager position at a salary range between $110,000 to $140,000 per year plus benefits. Thus, the Mayor’s compensation would increase from its current $10 per month or $120 per year to up to $66,000 per year to $84,000 per year, while the City Council members compensation would increase from $10 per month or $120 per year to up to $44,000 per year to $56,000 per year if Proposition “B” is approved in the Special Election.

Another important proposed City Charter Amendment is Proposition “A” which seeks to change the current election of the Mayor and City Council members from an at-large election system to a new format where only the Mayor and one City Council member are to be elected at-large and three City Council members are to be elected by a smaller group of voters divided into three City Districts.   Currently, the Eagle Pass City Council is composed of the Mayor and four City Council members and are elected in at-large election. The proposed Amendment “A” would change the election of three City Council members by a smaller group of voters divided into three Districts, while the Mayor and one City Council member would be elected at-large.

Another key proposed City Charter Amendment is Proposition “C” which seeks to change the appointment (hiring) of the City Secretary by the City Manager to that of by the Mayor and City Council.  Currently, the City Charter provides that the City Secretary shall be appointed or hired by the City Manager. However, the proposed Proposition “C” would change that decision to the Mayor and City Council, changing this traditional decision from the City Manager to the Mayor and City Council.

Another salient proposed City Charter Amendment is Proposition “D” which seeks to change the selection or hiring of all City Department Heads by the City Manager to the Mayor and City Council. For instance, the City Public Works Director, Parks and Recreation Department Director,  Public Library Director, Tax-Assessor Collector, City Finance Director, Police Chief, Fire Chief, and others would be selected or hired by the Mayor and City Council instead of the City Manager.

Another important proposed City Charter Amendment is Proposition “E” seeks to begin charging a candidate fee of $600 for every person who wants to run for Mayor and City Council instead of its current free status, except candidates may raise a petition with registered City voters to to qualify for a Candidate Fee Waiver or be given a $5 credit towards the proposed $600 Candidate Fee for every verified registered City voter in a petition.  Currently, candidates may apply to run for Mayor and City Council for free without having to pay anything except satisfy the candidate eligibility requirements.

The final proposed City Charter Amendment is Proposition “F” which seeks to add that the City Manager be required to amend the City’s Master Plan annually and provide the City Council an annual report on the City’s Master Plan.

All City of Eagle Pass taxpayers are encouraged to come out to vote in the City Charter Amendments Special Election during the Early Voting Period from April 23rd-May 1st or during Election Day on Saturday, May 5th, at the Multi-Purpose Center.