Mayor asks commissioners to repay city for benefits

Mayor Pat M. Ahumada Jr. called for former and present city commissioners and mayors to reimburse the city for benefits they received in "willful ignorance," contrary to the compensation provision in the City Charter allowing for no more than $50 in monthly meeting stipends.

"The city (and) taxpayers should not be out any money," Ahumada said, adding later that he would accept certain benefits if they were approved by voters.

Ahumada's comments came in the wake of state District Judge Janet L. Leal's ruling Wednesday that the city stop giving insurance benefits, blanket auto allowances and cell phone use to commissioners.

"He better start paying back," Commissioner Ricardo Longoria Jr quipped, saying that the city also insures Ahumada.

Ahumada said he was added to the plan several months ago after falling ill three times. He pays the premiums, he said, and the city does not contribute any money to his plan.

"I don't see a problem with it," Ahumada said.

Longoria said he is "perfectly fine" with Leal's ruling and will not propose any salary initiatives when the Charter Review Committee meets to review possible changes to the city's governing document. Changes would then be submitted for voter approval.

"I'm not going to go for anything like that - nada," Longoria said.

Ahumada feels the city should provide life insurance for commissioners in the event of death on city business. He also would not be opposed to compensation for commission members engaged in city business, but said that if this were to be approved by voters, it should not apply to present commissioners or to himself.

The cost to taxpayers from 2000 to 2005 in insurance coverage and medical benefits alone to former and present commission members was more than $200,000, not including claims that were paid. The city could not immediately provide the costs from 2005 to the present.

Present Brownsville City Commission members that receive insurance at taxpayers' expense: Commissioners Carlos A. Cisneros, the family of Ricardo Longoria Jr., and Charlie Atkinson.

Source: City of Brownsville