SPECIAL MEETING - SEPTEMBER 28, 2023
BE IT REMEMBERED, that on this 28th day of September A.D., 2023, there was begun and held a SPECIAL MEETING of the Honorable Commissioners’ Court of Hidalgo County, Texas, wherein the following members thereof were present, to-wit:
| HONORABLE RICHARD F. CORTEZ HONORABLE DAVID FUENTES HONORABLE EDUARDO "EDDIE" CANTU HONORABLE EVERARDO "EVER" VILLARREAL |
HIDALGO COUNTY JUDGE COMMISSIONER, PRECINCT NO. 1 COMMISSIONER, PRECINCT NO. 2 COMMISSIONER, PRECINCT NO. 3 |
and ARTURO GUAJARDO, JR., COUNTY CLERK & EX-OFFICIO CLERK OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT of Hidalgo County, Texas, wherein the following proceedings were had, to-wit:
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AGENDA CC REGULAR HIDALGO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING SEPTEMBER 28, 2023 2:00 P.M. |
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NOTICE is hereby given in accordance with Chapter 551, Texas Government Code, that a SPECIAL MEETING of the Commissioners Court will be held in the Commissioners Courtroom of the Administration Building, 100 E. Cano, 1st floor, Edinburg, Hidalgo County, Texas. Discussion and possible action relating to the following business will be transacted:
In accordance with Section 551.127, NOTICE is hereby given that a physical quorum, including the presiding officer/member, will be present at the specified meeting location. Some members of the governing body and/or government officials may participate via videoconference.
Members of the public are encouraged to watch the meetings online, at: www.hidalgocounty.us/HClive
1.
Roll Call (Audio Reference 00m:03s)
Judge Richard F. Cortez called the meeting to order at 2:00 P.M.
All members of the Court were present during the roll call, except Commissioner Ellie Torres.
Commissioner Ellie Torres was absent from this meeting.
Judge Richard F. Cortez called the meeting to order at 2:00 P.M.
All members of the Court were present during the roll call, except Commissioner Ellie Torres.
Commissioner Ellie Torres was absent from this meeting.
2.
Pledge of Allegiance (Audio Reference 00m:17s)
Judge Cortez led the Court in the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance.
Judge Cortez led the Court in the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance.
3.
Prayer (Audio Reference 00m:37s)
County Executive Officer, Valde Guerra, offered the prayer.
County Executive Officer, Valde Guerra, offered the prayer.
4.
Open Forum (Audio Reference 01m:18s)
Public participant, Fern McClaugherty, came before the Court to express her concern regarding the cost for the new county courthouse. Furthermore, Ms. McClaugherty asked the Court to lower the property tax rate.
No action was taken for Agenda Item 4 - Open Forum.
Public participant, Fern McClaugherty, came before the Court to express her concern regarding the cost for the new county courthouse. Furthermore, Ms. McClaugherty asked the Court to lower the property tax rate.
No action was taken for Agenda Item 4 - Open Forum.
5.
Budget & Management:
A.
AI-92541
1. Public Hearing on 2023 Proposed Tax Rate of $0.5750 per $100 valuation. (Audio Reference 04m:17s)
Director of Budget and Management, Dagoberto Soto, Jr., stated that the notice for the Public Hearing on 2023 Proposed Tax Rate was posted on the Hidalgo County website September 20th 2023, and was publish for public circulation with The Monitor September 20th 2023.
Judge Richard F. Cortez opened a public hearing at 2:04 P.M., regarding the 2023 Proposed Tax Rate of $0.5750 per $100 valuation. There were two (2) public participants for the public hearing. (Audio Reference 05m:14s)
Public participant, Fern McClaugherty, came before the Court to request that the property tax rate to be lowered from $0.5750 to $0.5142. (Audio Reference 05m:20s)
Participant, Erik Ramirez, came before the Court to express his opposition to the increment of the property tax rate. (Audio Reference 07m:30s)
Judge Cortez closed the public hearing at 2:07 P.M. (Audio Reference 08m:36s)
No action was taken for Agenda Item 5.A.1.
2. Approval of order setting the 2023 Hidalgo County Tax Rates as follows:
a. Maintenance and Operations Tax Rate - 0.5126 (Audio Reference 08m:40s)
Commissioner David Fuentes motioned for the adoption of a maintenance and operation tax rate of $0.5126 for each $100 dollars of valuation of all taxable property for general operating purposes.
On motion by COMMISSIONER PCT. 1, DAVID FUENTES, seconded by COMMISSIONER PCT. 2, EDUARDO “EDDIE” CANTU, the Court made a UNANIMOUS vote of approval on agenda item 5.A.2.a.
Vote: 4 - 0 – Unanimously
The Court proceeded with a record vote to approve the Hidalgo County Maintenance and Operations Tax Rate of $0.5126. (Audio Reference 09m:30s)
Pct. No.1 Commissioner David Fuentes, voted aye.
Pct. No. 2 Commissioner Eduardo "Eddie" Cantu, voted aye.
Pct. No. 3 Commissioner Everardo "Ever" Villarreal, voted aye.
County Judge Richard F. Cortez, voted aye.
b. Debt Service Tax Rate - 0.0624 (Audio Reference 09m:51s)
Commissioner David Fuentes motioned for the adoption of a debt service tax rate of $0.0624 for each $100 dollars of valuation of all taxable property to provide sinking funds and pay interest on the outstanding debt issuance which include both bond issues and certificates of obligations.
On motion by COMMISSIONER PCT. 1, DAVID FUENTES, seconded by COMMISSIONER PCT. 3, EVERARDO “EVER” VILLARREAL, the Court made a UNANIMOUS vote of approval on agenda item 5.A.2.b.
Vote: 4 - 0 - Unanimously
The Court proceeded with a record vote to approve the Hidalgo County Debt Service Tax Rate of $0.0624. (Audio Reference 10m:19s)
Pct. No.1 Commissioner David Fuentes, voted aye.
Pct. No. 2 Commissioner Eduardo "Eddie" Cantu, voted aye.
Pct. No. 3 Commissioner Everardo "Ever" Villarreal, voted aye.
County Judge Richard F. Cortez, voted aye.
c. Total Ad Valorem Tax Rate - 0.5750 (Audio Reference 10m:36s)
Commissioner David Fuentes motioned that the property tax rate be increased by the adoption of a tax rate of $0.5750 for each $100 dollars of valuation, which is effectively an 11.82% increase in the tax rate.
On motion by COMMISSIONER PCT. 1, DAVID FUENTES, seconded by COMMISSIONER PCT. 3, EVERARDO “EVER” VILLARREAL, the Court made a UNANIMOUS vote of approval on agenda item 5.A.2.c.
Vote: 4 - 0 - Unanimously
The Court proceeded with a record vote to approve the Hidalgo County Total Ad Valorem Tax Rate of $0.5750. (Audio Reference 11m:05s)
Pct. No.1 Commissioner David Fuentes, voted aye.
Pct. No. 2 Commissioner Eduardo "Eddie" Cantu, voted aye.
Pct. No. 3 Commissioner Everardo "Ever" Villarreal, voted aye.
County Judge Richard F. Cortez, voted aye.
Director of Budget and Management, Dagoberto Soto, Jr., stated that the notice for the Public Hearing on 2023 Proposed Tax Rate was posted on the Hidalgo County website September 20th 2023, and was publish for public circulation with The Monitor September 20th 2023.
Judge Richard F. Cortez opened a public hearing at 2:04 P.M., regarding the 2023 Proposed Tax Rate of $0.5750 per $100 valuation. There were two (2) public participants for the public hearing. (Audio Reference 05m:14s)
Public participant, Fern McClaugherty, came before the Court to request that the property tax rate to be lowered from $0.5750 to $0.5142. (Audio Reference 05m:20s)
Participant, Erik Ramirez, came before the Court to express his opposition to the increment of the property tax rate. (Audio Reference 07m:30s)
Judge Cortez closed the public hearing at 2:07 P.M. (Audio Reference 08m:36s)
No action was taken for Agenda Item 5.A.1.
2. Approval of order setting the 2023 Hidalgo County Tax Rates as follows:
a. Maintenance and Operations Tax Rate - 0.5126 (Audio Reference 08m:40s)
Commissioner David Fuentes motioned for the adoption of a maintenance and operation tax rate of $0.5126 for each $100 dollars of valuation of all taxable property for general operating purposes.
On motion by COMMISSIONER PCT. 1, DAVID FUENTES, seconded by COMMISSIONER PCT. 2, EDUARDO “EDDIE” CANTU, the Court made a UNANIMOUS vote of approval on agenda item 5.A.2.a.
Vote: 4 - 0 – Unanimously
The Court proceeded with a record vote to approve the Hidalgo County Maintenance and Operations Tax Rate of $0.5126. (Audio Reference 09m:30s)
Pct. No.1 Commissioner David Fuentes, voted aye.
Pct. No. 2 Commissioner Eduardo "Eddie" Cantu, voted aye.
Pct. No. 3 Commissioner Everardo "Ever" Villarreal, voted aye.
County Judge Richard F. Cortez, voted aye.
b. Debt Service Tax Rate - 0.0624 (Audio Reference 09m:51s)
Commissioner David Fuentes motioned for the adoption of a debt service tax rate of $0.0624 for each $100 dollars of valuation of all taxable property to provide sinking funds and pay interest on the outstanding debt issuance which include both bond issues and certificates of obligations.
On motion by COMMISSIONER PCT. 1, DAVID FUENTES, seconded by COMMISSIONER PCT. 3, EVERARDO “EVER” VILLARREAL, the Court made a UNANIMOUS vote of approval on agenda item 5.A.2.b.
Vote: 4 - 0 - Unanimously
The Court proceeded with a record vote to approve the Hidalgo County Debt Service Tax Rate of $0.0624. (Audio Reference 10m:19s)
Pct. No.1 Commissioner David Fuentes, voted aye.
Pct. No. 2 Commissioner Eduardo "Eddie" Cantu, voted aye.
Pct. No. 3 Commissioner Everardo "Ever" Villarreal, voted aye.
County Judge Richard F. Cortez, voted aye.
c. Total Ad Valorem Tax Rate - 0.5750 (Audio Reference 10m:36s)
Commissioner David Fuentes motioned that the property tax rate be increased by the adoption of a tax rate of $0.5750 for each $100 dollars of valuation, which is effectively an 11.82% increase in the tax rate.
On motion by COMMISSIONER PCT. 1, DAVID FUENTES, seconded by COMMISSIONER PCT. 3, EVERARDO “EVER” VILLARREAL, the Court made a UNANIMOUS vote of approval on agenda item 5.A.2.c.
Vote: 4 - 0 - Unanimously
The Court proceeded with a record vote to approve the Hidalgo County Total Ad Valorem Tax Rate of $0.5750. (Audio Reference 11m:05s)
Pct. No.1 Commissioner David Fuentes, voted aye.
Pct. No. 2 Commissioner Eduardo "Eddie" Cantu, voted aye.
Pct. No. 3 Commissioner Everardo "Ever" Villarreal, voted aye.
County Judge Richard F. Cortez, voted aye.
Attachments:
6.
Adjourn (Audio Reference 11m:32s)
Judge Cortez adjourned the meeting with a vote of approval at 2:10 P.M.
On motion by COMMISSIONER PCT. 3, EVERARDO “EVER” VILLARREAL, seconded by COMMISSIONER PCT. 2, EDUARDO “EDDIE” CANTU, the Court made a UNANIMOUS vote of approval to adjourn the meeting.
Vote: 4 - 0 - Unanimously
Judge Cortez adjourned the meeting with a vote of approval at 2:10 P.M.
On motion by COMMISSIONER PCT. 3, EVERARDO “EVER” VILLARREAL, seconded by COMMISSIONER PCT. 2, EDUARDO “EDDIE” CANTU, the Court made a UNANIMOUS vote of approval to adjourn the meeting.
Vote: 4 - 0 - Unanimously
There being no further business to come before said
Court, the meetings of the Commissioners Court and the
Drainage District #1 Board are now hereby adjourned.
Dated this the 28th day of September, 2023
ARTURO GUAJARDO, JR., County Clerk
Hidalgo County, Texas
By: ______________________________
Daniela E. Garza, Deputy
I, ARTURO GUAJARDO, JR., County Clerk attest that this is an accurate accounting of a proceeding of the Commissioners Court held on September 28, 2023.
Signed this 28th day of September 2023
ATTEST:
ARTURO GUAJARDO, JR.
County Clerk and Ex-Officio Clerk
Of the Commissioners Court of
Hidalgo County
By: ____________________________
(Seal) Daniela E. Garza, Deputy
Court, the meetings of the Commissioners Court and the
Drainage District #1 Board are now hereby adjourned.
Dated this the 28th day of September, 2023
ARTURO GUAJARDO, JR., County Clerk
Hidalgo County, Texas
By: ______________________________
Daniela E. Garza, Deputy
I, ARTURO GUAJARDO, JR., County Clerk attest that this is an accurate accounting of a proceeding of the Commissioners Court held on September 28, 2023.
Signed this 28th day of September 2023
ATTEST:
ARTURO GUAJARDO, JR.
County Clerk and Ex-Officio Clerk
Of the Commissioners Court of
Hidalgo County
By: ____________________________
(Seal) Daniela E. Garza, Deputy