Maverick County Owes City of Eagle Pass approximately $1 Million for Fire & Trash Collection Services

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

Maverick County’s financial problems continue to grow as the City of Eagle Pass City Council approved to draft a letter to County Judge David R. Saucedo requesting payment for Fire Protection and EMS ambulance services and trash collection services rendered by the City to the County during the past few years at its June 23, 2015 meeting.

Maverick County’s estimated debt owed to the City of Eagle Pass for fire protection, EMS ambulance service, and trash collection services is estimated to be approximately $1 Million according to knowledgeable sources.

Maverick County currently pays up to $438,562 per year to the City of Eagle Pass for these critical public services, but it appears that the County has fallen behind in their payments to the City for these services.

Under agenda item No. 20, Executive Session pursuant to Section 551.071, Chapter 551, Texas Government Code – Consultation with legal counsel regarding outstanding delinquent balance from Maverick County, the City Council consulted with legal counsel in executive session regarding the County’s debt for these services.

Upon returning to Open Session, Mayor Ramsey English Cantu asked if Council had a recommendation on the issue. The City Council made a motion and seconded it to authorize legal counsel and City Manager Gloria Barrientos to draft a letter to County Judge David R. Saucedo requesting payment from the County to the City for these services already rendered and owed and to meet with Judge Saucedo on when and how does the County plan to pay for these services.

Several years ago, the City under the administration of former City Manager Glenn Starnes did stop providing fire protection and ambulance services to the County for one day during negotiations for payment of arrearages for these services, causing over 30,000 County residents to complain and request Commissioners Court to pay the City because they could not go without these critical public services.

In the event that the County and the City do not reach an agreement on payment for the almost $1 Million debt currently owed, the City will have to decide whether to cut-off fire protection, EMS ambulance services, and trash collection services to County residents in the near future.

Maverick County Commissioners Court announced that they will have to seek a loan of up to $2 Million this summer to pay for the salaries of the Maverick County Detention Center employees due to a shortfall of projected revenues and increased expenses. Commissioners Court may have to ask for a larger loan than the $2 Million in order to cover the County’s debt owed to the City for these critical public services.

Maverick County may have to raise ad valorem property taxes for 2015 in order to meet its growing financial problems and budget for 2015-2016. Maverick County taxpayers are already wary of another ad valorem tax increase as the City earlier announced a 6.7 cents per $100 valuation tax increase to cover a $10 Million certificates of obligation. In addition, the Maverick County Appraisal District raised many property appraisals for 2015, causing a double tax to local taxpayers.