City Council grapples with budget deficit for 2013-2014
By: Jose G. Landa
Copyright 2013
The City of Eagle Pass, Texas City Council grappled with a projected $3 million budget deficit for fiscal year 2013-2014 at their regular meeting held on Tuesday, September 3, 2013.
Eagle Pass City Manager Gloria Barrientos presented the City Council with several proposals to narrow the projected $3 million budget deficit for fiscal year 2013-2014 for the City of Eagle Pass at the September 3rd public meeting. One proposal which is projected to raise $1 million in revenues for the City of Eagle Pass is the proposed rate increase of fares at the City of Eagle Pass International Bridges to take effect on October 1st. The Eagle Pass International Bridge System proposes to increase the automobile fares from $2.50 to $3.00 and the commercial vehicle fares by an additional $1 during 2013-2014, raising at least $1 million in additional revenues according to Eagle Pass International Bridge System General Manager Mario Diaz.
Another proposal is to use $1.3 million of capital outlays of the Eagle Pass International Bridges for the City of Eagle Pass operating budget for 2013-2014. Mayor Pro-Tem Luis E. Sifuentes expressed concerns regarding the balancing of the City of Eagle Pass operating budget for 2013-2014 based on projections of increased international bridge revenues which are subject to many factors and conditions. Sifuentes noted that projecting increased revenues for the Eagle Pass International Bridges depends on too many factors and contingencies from happening. Sifuentes cited the significant decrease of bridge revenues in 2009 due to insecurity in Mexico and the reluctance of people visiting Mexico. Another scenario is that the federal sequestration may affect the projections of revenues at the international bridges. Eagle Pass Bridge System General Manager Mario Diaz responded that current international bridge traffic has increased and appears to continue to steadily grow into the near future. Diaz cited the rate increase should raise bridge revenues from $4 million to $6 million during the 2013-2014 fiscal year.
City Manager Gloria Barrientos presented to City Council that assuming the additional $2.3 million in funds from the Eagle Pass International Bridges to the City is correct, the City is still $695,000 short from balancing the proposed 2013-2014 fiscal budget of $19 million. The City of Eagle Pass operating budget must be balanced before it is approved by the City Council.
The City Council will hold another Budget Workshop and public hearing on Saturday, September 14th, to allow City Administration additional time to review the proposed budget and find cost cutting measures or increased revenue measures to balance the budget. The City Council has to approve the 2013-2014 fiscal budget by September 30th to become effective by October 1st.
The public is invited to attend the Eagle Pass City Council budget workshops and public hearings and voice their suggestions and concerns to the City Council before it adopts the 2013-2014 fiscal budget.
