Eagle Pass Issues Public Notice to Outside City Limits County Residents That Fire and EMS Services May Potentially Cease October 1
By Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2026 Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.
The City of Eagle Pass issued advance notice Monday that fire protection and emergency medical services outside the city limits could be discontinued beginning October 1, 2026 if a new agreement with Maverick County was not reached before the current contract expires on September 30.
City officials said Eagle Pass and Maverick County remained in negotiations over continued emergency services for residents living in unincorporated areas of the county.
According to the city, it presented a proposal that would have secured Fire and EMS services for Maverick County residents for 20 years in exchange for the transfer of full ownership of the Maverick County International Airport to the city.
The Maverick County Commissioners Court elected not to accept the proposal.
Negotiations later continued toward reaching a service agreement for Fiscal Year 2027.
At the September 14, 2026 special meeting of City Council, the City Council authorized City Manager Homero Balderas to continue negotiations and sign a contract with Maverick County concerning the fire protection and EMS services.
According to a reliable source, Maverick County is now offering the city to transfer title to the Maverick County Lake property and another property in exchange for fire and EMS services.
The city warned that if a new agreement was not approved before the current contract expired September 30, Fire and EMS services provided by Eagle Pass outside the city limits could be discontinued the following day.
Emergency services within the Eagle Pass city limits would continue without interruption.
City officials called on the Maverick County judge and Commissioners Court to treat the negotiations with urgency, emphasizing that fire protection and emergency medical response directly affected the health and safety of county residents.
“The City recognizes the seriousness of what a disruption in these services could mean for families throughout the County and believes an issue of this magnitude requires timely attention and action from all parties,” the city stated.
The city maintained that it had negotiated in good faith and remained willing to reach an agreement that would be fair to both city and county taxpayers.
City officials also said Eagle Pass had a responsibility to protect the financial interests of its taxpayers and ensure the cost of providing services beyond the city limits was addressed through a formal agreement.
The notice was not intended to suggest that negotiations had ended or that services were already being discontinued, according to the city. Instead, officials said the announcement was issued to provide transparency about the approaching deadline and warn residents who could be affected.
The city said its preferred outcome remained an agreement that would prevent any interruption in emergency services.
Eagle Pass officials encouraged all parties involved to make the negotiations a priority and finalize an agreement before September 30.
Additional information was expected to be released as negotiations progressed. Residents seeking information about possible Fire and EMS coverage outside the city limits after September 30 were advised to contact Maverick County directly.
