Eagle Pass City Manager Homero Balderas Placed on One Year Probationary Period Over Ethics Findings
By Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2026 Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.
The Eagle Pass City Council voted unanimously Monday, September 14, 2026 to place City Manager Homero Balderas on probationary status for one year following several ethics complaints’ findings and administrative concerns involving his administration.
The action came approximately one month after Balderas’ employment was evaluated by the City Council on August 4, 2026 concerning his performance and administration, garnering a three-year extension to his employment contract and a salary increase of nearly $35,000 despite having at least two or more ethics complaints filed and pending against him with the City’s Ethics Commission.
During Monday’s meeting, September 14, the City Council entered executive session to discuss Item 14 under Section 551.074 of the Texas Government Code, which permits a governmental body to deliberate certain personnel matters behind closed doors.
The agenda item involved discussion and possible action concerning the findings of fact and conclusions of law issued September 3, 2026, by the Eagle Pass Ethics Commission, along with other matters related to the findings.
After the City Council returned to open session, Mayor Aaron Valdez requested a motion regarding the item.
Councilman Mario E. Garcia moved to place Balderas on probationary status for one year and require him to present corrective action plans to the City Council.
Garcia also called for Balderas to attend mandatory training addressing ethics and budget compliance, along with a minimum of 20 hours of training annually.
“I also request the city manager to be responsible for any corrective actions for or against Finance Director Felix Castillo,” Garcia said.
Mayor Pro Tem Billy Davis seconded the motion. Valdez then asked whether council members had any further discussion before calling for the vote.
The motion passed unanimously.
The council’s decision followed questions raised during Balderas’ annual performance evaluation approximately one month earlier. During that meeting on August 4, city council members voted 4-0 to approve his evaluation, while councilman Davis abstained due to the pending ethics complaints.
Davis publicly stated at the time that he could not participate in the vote because two ethics complaints against Balderas were pending.
Despite those concerns, the city council approved a three-year contract extension and a salary increase of nearly $35,000 for Balderas as part of the evaluation process.
Balderas was appointed Eagle Pass City Manager on February 6, 2024, following a competitive selection process that attracted nearly 50 applicants.
As city manager, Balderas oversees the daily operations of the municipal government, manages more than 400 employees and is responsible for implementing policies approved by the City Council.
His responsibilities also include overseeing the city’s finances, public safety, infrastructure, economic development, international bridge system, community development and other municipal services.
The corrective action plans requested by the council are expected to address the Ethics Commission’s findings and the administrative concerns raised by council members.
The council did not publicly disclose the complete details of those plans or the specific disciplinary measures that could be imposed if the probationary requirements are not met.
The Eagle Pass Business Journal has requested the Ethics Commission’s decisions and findings against Balderas under the Texas Public Information Act.
Although the specific outcome and findings of the Ethics Commission are yet unknown to the public, the Eagle Pass Business Journal previously reported on two ethics complaints filed against Balderas and one with City Finance and Business Director Felix Castillo.
One ethics complaints filed against Balderas alleges that he and City Finance Director Felix Castillo had failed to seek approval of an amendment for more than $5 million in over-expenditures from City Council during the 2024-2025 fiscal year budget. The citizen complainant alleged that there are no City Council Agendas nor minutes of the City Council meetings approving an amendment to the 2024-2025 fiscal year budget approving the more than $5 million over-expenditure of taxpayers funds. Balderas and Castillo denied these allegations.
A second ethics complaint filed against City Manager Homero Balderas alleges that he used city public works resources and materials to improve a section of the street in front of his private residence with concrete instead of asphalt paving. Balderas denied these allegations.
The Eagle Pass Business Journal will pursue the Ethics Commission’s decisions and findings in these two complaints.
The Eagle Pass Business Journal has learned from a reliable source that Balderas had been previously ordered by City Council to do certain training, but failed to comply.
Following his probationary sanction, Balderas accompanied city officials on Tuesday, September 15, 2026 on a lobbying junket trip to Washington, D. C.
