Maverick County Commissioners Court to consider hiring freeze, changing Independent Auditors, transferring $800K from Road & Bridge to General Funds, and much more at June 29th special meeting

By: Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2015, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.

Maverick County Commissioners Court will hold a special meeting on Monday, June 29, 2015, at 5 P.M. at Commissioners Courtroom in Eagle Pass, Texas to discuss a total of 48 agenda items, including a County hiring freeze, changing Independent Auditors from Milo Martinez of Maritinez, Rosario & Company to Beyer and Company, C.P.A., transferring $800,000 from the Road & Bridge Department to the County’s General Fund due to cash flow problems for the remainder of the Fiscal Year Budget 2015 (9/30/15), approve a budget amendment for the Sheriff’s Department, request bids for competitive proposals for a Jail Management System and Commissary Services for the Maverick County Detention Center, hiring a Professional Engineer for County services, and in Executive Session the discussion of an invoice from Independent Auditor Martinez, Rosario & Company, potential claims against former Independent Auditor Leal & Carter for past auditing services, and the Verified Petition to take the Deposition of County Treasurer Rito J. Valdez, III, filed by former County Financial Advisor Southwestern Capital Markets, Inc. and much more.

The June 29th Commissioners Court promises to discuss and take possible action on many important agenda items affecting the financial health of Maverick County, particularly the current Fiscal Year Budget 2015 financial shortage which may require the borrowing of up to $2 Million to pay the employees of the Maverick County Detention Center through September 30, 2015 and the transferring of $800,000 Road & Bridge Department monies to the County’s General Fund to address any cash flow problems during the remainder of the 2015 FYE Budget.

An interesting agenda item calls for the discussion and possible action to approve Beyer and Company, C.P.A., as the Independent Auditor instead of current Independent Auditor Milo Martinez of Maritnez, Rosario & Company. It appears that Commissioners Court may part ways with Milo Martinez of Martinez, Rosario & Company as the County’s Independent Auditor after using him extensively and paying him top dollar to assist Commissioners Court oust former County Auditor Fidencio Ortiz from being reappointed by the District Court Judges Panel to a second two year term as County Auditor.  Martinez is the remaining player of the past County professional consultants which have all been replaced by Commissioners Court under the leadership of County Judge David R. Saucedo.  Former County Financial Advisor Roberto G. Rodriguez of Southwestern Capital Markets, Inc. was replaced, former County General Counsel Poncho Nevarez resigned and was replaced, former County Auditor Fidencio Oritz was replaced, and now it appears that Milo Martinez of Martinez, Rosario & Company may be replaced too.

Another interesting agenda item is the Verified Petition to take the Deposition of County Treasurer Rito J. Valdez , III, filed by former County Financial Advisor Southwestern Capital Markets, Inc. to perpetuate testimony and production of documents to determine what claims it may have against Maverick County, the Maverick County Public Facility Corporation and its officers and directors.

The June 29th Commissioners Court meeting is open to the public.