Eagle Pass City Council approves 2016-2017 Fiscal Year Budget and Tax Rate, Raise International Bridge and City Fees, and Award Publicity and Tourism Agreement with Chamber

By: Jose G. Landa, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2016

The City of Eagle Pass, Texas City Council approved the proposed 2016-2017 Fiscal Year Budget and Tax Rate, among several agenda items, at its Special Meeting held on Tuesday, September 20, 2016.

The City Council approved Agenda Item No. 2 calling for the third and final reading of an Ordinance approving and adopting the budget of the City of Eagle Pass, Texas for the 2016-2017 Fiscal Year.  The total amount of the 2016-2017 Fiscal Year Budget is $22,371,375 (Million), a total of $2,036,304 (Million) larger than the 2015-2016 Fiscal Year Budget of $20,335,071.

In order to balance the approved 2016-2017 Fiscal Year Budget, the City Council also approved to keep the same tax rate for 2016-2017 as the current year of $0.546017 per $100 valuation of ad valorem property without having to raise the tax rate, but due to the historic record setting residential ad valorem property tax appraisals performed by the Maverick County Appraisal District for 2016 the City of Eagle Pass will receive a significant tax revenue increase than the current year of $503,449.

The City Council also raised most of the City of Eagle Pass fees for licenses, permits, renewals, and use of city-owned facilities to residents, groups, organizations, and businesses.  For example, the renewal fee of a Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission license was increased to $15; an application for a TABC on premise license of alcoholic beverages fee was increased to $150; the use of the Multi-Purpose Center fee for non-profits was raised to $150; swimming lessons fee increased to $75,  adult admission to City Pool increased to $2 per person and $1.50 for Children; Police Accident Reports increased to $8, Accident Reports raised to $8, Finger Prints increased to $15, Police Letters of Clearance increased to $25, Police Security Fee Per Hour increased to $35 per officer/security person; Fire Department fees increased; Library Fees increased; EMS Ambulance Fees increased; and many other City service fees were increased by the City Council.

The City Council also increased the International bridge fares for automobiles and pick-up trucks from $3 per vehicle to $3.50 per vehicle despite pleas from Mexican businesses and citizens not to raise the bridge fares effective October 1, 2016. It is unknown what the increased bridge fares will impact the City of Eagle Pass’ 2016-2017 Fiscal Year Budget because the Mexican Peso monetary exchange rate has plummeted to trading at $20 pesos per U.S. Dollar, potentially decreasing the number of vehicles that might use the City’s two international bridges as a result of the Mexican Peso devaluation, the bridge fare increase, and decrease of the City’s overall sales tax revenues-a triple whammy to the City’s budget.

The City Council also approved a contract between the City of Eagle Pass and Eagle Pass Chamber of Commerce for publicity and tourism promotion for 2016-2017 for the total amount of $91,200, including $30,000 for operational overhead expenses of the Chamber and $61,200 for advertising and promotional expenses.  This agreement for publicity and tourism raises the issue whether the Eagle Pass Chamber of Commerce may be subject to the Texas Public Information Act since $30,000 of the $91,200 agreement is for general operational overhead expenses of the Chamber, possibly making the Chamber a quasi-public entity of the City of Eagle Pass.  The Eagle Pass Chamber of Commerce also approved a resolution by its Board of Directors in favor of the controversial Dos Republicas Coal Partnership open pit coal mine known as “Eagle Pass Mine” while the City of Eagle Pass approved resolutions in opposition to said coal mine and fiercely oppose the mine in legal proceedings, including two appeals before the Texas Supreme Court.

The Eagle Pass City Council is composed of Mayor Ramsey English Cantu, Mayor Pro-Tem Rudy Villalpando, and Council Member Gloria E. Hernandez,  Luis E. Sifuentes, and Yolanda P. Ramon.