Eagle Pass City Council Set to Raise Bridge Toll Rates; Seek to Hire Another Attorney on “As Needed Basis”
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2025
The City of Eagle Pass, Texas City Council is scheduled to tackle multiple key issues at their regular meeting set on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. at City Council Chambers, 100 S. Monroe Street, including, but not limited to, Agenda Item No. 7 calling for the third and final reading of an Ordinance increasing the commercial vehicle and buses international bridge toll rate fees; Agenda Item No. 15 calling for the third and final reading of an Ordinance increasing the bridge toll rate for non-commercial vehicles who pay with cash from $4 per vehicle to $6 per vehicle; Agenda Item No. 10 calling for the authorization of the City Manager to execute an agreement with attorney Ricardo Ramos, Jr. for professional legal services “as needed” in an amount not to exceed $60,000 for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, and many other key issues listed on the agenda.
After the City Administration and City Council’s rush to increase the international bridge toll rates came to a screeching halt at the special meeting of City Council on October 21, 2025 upon the complaint of the Eagle Pass International Bridge Board of Trustees President Mario Escobar that the City had failed to consult with the Bridge Board before increasing the bridge toll rates at an October 16, 2025 meeting, the City Council is now set to approve increasing the bridge toll rates at their regular meeting scheduled on Tuesday, November 4, 2025.
At a special meeting of the Eagle Pass International Bridge Board of Trustees held on October 27, 2025 called specifically to discuss the proposed bridge toll rate increases, the Bridge Board heard from City Manager Homero Balderas on why they should recommend the bridge toll rate increases to City Council, including that the City had installed a multi-million automated toll rate technology system, the proposed transportation realignment of roadways leading to Camino Real Bridge, and the expansion of Camino Real Bridge from six to 12 lanes. Without taking any formal action on the discussion as the October 27th Bridge Board Agenda only called for discussion (with no action), the Bridge Board blessed the City Administration’s proposed bridge toll rate increases. City Manager Homero Balderas advised the Bridge Board that he would take their recommendation to City Council at their November 4, 2025 meeting.
Now at the scheduled November 4, 2025 regular City Council meeting, City Council is to set to approve Agenda Item No. 7 for its third and final reading to increase the bridge toll rates for commercial vehicles (tractor-trailers) and commercial buses from $5.50 per axle to $6.50 per axle for trucks and buses using the toll tag and from $6,00 per axle to $10,00 per axle for cash payments, as well as establishing a $25.00 fee for tractors without a trailer, and establishing a penalty for insufficient funds.
The City Council is also set to approve Agenda Item No. 15 calling for charging $2.00 per axle or $4.00 per non-commercial vehicle for express cash card or toll tag users and increase the rate from $2 per axle or $4 per vehicle for express card or toll tag users, and $2.00 per axle to $2.50 axle, that is, from $4 per vehicle to $5 per vehicle for cash payment users.
A new development from the City Administration and City Council is Agenda Item No. 10 calling for the hiring of a special legal counsel (attorney) on an “as needed basis” for an amount not to exceed $60,000 for the 2025-2026, specifically attorney Ricardo Ramos, Jr. for professional legal services “as needed.” This new agenda item surfaces to the City Council for the first time, causing taxpayers to question this agenda item since the City Council just approved an amendment to City Attorney Ana Sofia Berain-Garcia’s contract at the October 14, 2025 special meeting, presumably a pay raise, the City Council has previously hired a forensic auditing firm and outside legal counsel to pursue legal claims on the $2.3 million 57 Music Festival loss, and the City Council has failed to file any lawsuit against the responsible parties for the recovery of the $2.3 million loss sustained by taxpayers. Taxpayers demand that the City Council first complete the forensic audit on the 57 Music Festival loss and proceed to file legal action against any responsible parties before hiring any additional legal counsel.
There are many other important issues to be discussed and possible action to be taken at the November 4, 2025 City Council meeting. Taxpayers are encouraged to read the City Council Agenda for November 4th at the City Website. The City Council meetings are open to the public and any concerned citizen may register to speak during the Citizens Communication agenda of the meeting.
