Maverick County Residents Threaten With Potential Loss of Fire and EMS Services As City of Eagle Pass Issues Notice Effective October 1

By Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2026 Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.

Maverick County faces a growing public safety concern as it struggles to balance its upcoming budget and the City of Eagle Pass-issued Notice warns that Fire and EMS services for residents outside the city limits may potentially be discontinued beginning October 1, 2026.

The warning places additional pressure on county officials who are examining possible budget reductions following the loss of revenue and an initial multimillion-dollar difference between projected income and expenses.

An earlier version of the county’s proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget shows approximately $23.6 million in revenue and $28.5 million in expenditures, leaving a potential shortfall of nearly $4.8 million.

County officials are now working toward a balanced proposal of approximately $24.5 million in a reduced budget and have discussed reducing expenditures closer to $24 million.

The financial difficulties are partly connected to the loss of approximately $2 million from a federal inmate housing agreement at the Maverick County Detention Center.

Proposed reductions discussed during the budget process include approximately $600,000 affecting public safety departments and reducing employee hours.

The Maverick County Sheriff’s Office is already confronting substantial proposed cuts. During an August budget workshop, the department’s overtime and holiday pay allocation was reduced from approximately $208,000 to $10,000, while its training allocation was lowered to approximately $500.
Sheriff’s officials also report that the department has only 11 patrol deputies serving a county population of approximately 58,000 residents.

That represents about one deputy for every 5,273 residents, with as few as three deputies assigned to each shift.

The county’s financial challenges are becoming even more serious after the City of Eagle Pass issued an advance notice on September 14, 2026 concerning the possible termination of Fire and EMS services outside the city limits.

The existing service agreement is scheduled to expire September 30, 2026.

City officials say services could be discontinued the following day if Eagle Pass and Maverick County do not approve a new agreement.

Fire protection and emergency medical services within the Eagle Pass city limits will continue without interruption.

According to the city, Eagle Pass presented what it describes as a significant proposal that would guarantee Fire and EMS coverage for Maverick County residents for 20 years.

In exchange, the county would transfer full ownership of the Maverick County Memorial International Airport to the city.

The Maverick County Commissioners Court has declined to accept the proposal.

Negotiations are supposedly continuing toward a possible agreement covering Fiscal Year 2027.

City officials are calling on the county judge and Commissioners Court to treat the matter with urgency, stating that fire protection and emergency medical response directly affect the health and safety of families throughout Maverick County.

The city maintains that it has negotiated in good faith but also has a responsibility to protect Eagle Pass taxpayers and ensure that the cost of providing services outside the city limits is addressed through a formal agreement.

The announcement does not mean that Fire and EMS services have already ended.

City officials say the notice is intended to warn the public about the approaching deadline and encourage both governments to reach a resolution.

However, the possibility of losing those services creates an urgent question for residents of the county’s unincorporated communities.

The city’s notice does not identify another Fire or EMS provider that will immediately replace Eagle Pass if the agreement expires.

Without continued coverage or an alternative emergency response plan, residents outside the city could face uncertainty when reporting house fires, medical emergencies, serious vehicle accidents and other life-threatening situations.

County officials are also exploring the possibility of creating an Emergency Services District to help fund fire protection and emergency medical services.

Such a district could seek voter approval to collect a property tax of up to 10 cents for every $100 of property valuation.

That possibility requires additional action and does not resolve the immediate September 30 deadline.

Maverick County is now confronting two closely connected problems. It must stabilize its finances while ensuring that residents continue receiving the law enforcement, fire protection and emergency medical services necessary to protect their lives and property.

With the deadline approaching, the dispute is no longer limited to government finances or ownership of the county airport. It is a public safety issue for thousands of residents who depend on emergency responders during their most critical moments.