Few offer public comment on raising taxes

Several Cameron County residents said it loud and made it clear that they don't want the county to raise their property taxes.

Many appeared before county commissioners during a public hearing Monday in which they said residents are already dealing with several issues such as rising fuel prices and possible foreclosures on their homes and don't need to be burdened with higher property taxes.

"People are losing their homes. Please consider changing the dates. Please do not raise taxes now," Pastor Alex Resendez pleaded before the court.

Commissioners are considering raising property taxes up to .36 cents per $100 valuation from .34 cents to help balance the budget. A penny increase is also under consideration.

The county's proposed budget is about $67 million. This doesn't include $1,000 across-the-board raises that the commission is considering giving all employees except the commission itself.

County Judge Carlos H. Cascos has said a one cent or two cent increase is needed due to several factors that weren't present during the preparation of the last year's budget. They include two new courts the county is mandated to open, funding the indigent defense fund, the court cost for several murder and capital murder trials, drop in bridge revenues and increasing fuel cost. These amount to about $3 to $4 million.

Resendez said residents are already hurting because of the aftermath of Hurricane Dolly. Some businesses had to close because of Dolly, which meant some people were out of work.

"I understand you have to raise taxes," Resendez said, but asked if the commission could do it at a later date. He said a lack of public participation at Monday's meeting doesn't mean residents are in support of higher property taxes.

Resident Nicholas Dirk showed up at the early meeting after working an overnight shift telling commissioners they need to start doing their jobs and shouldn't rely on the public to pick up the tab.

"You are attempting solve a temporary budget shortfall with a property tax increase. What's to say the same thing won't happen next year," Dirk said.

Former Brownsville Mayor Jim Mills told the commission that he recently had to sell a 642 square-foot condo he owned on South Padre Island because the taxes were getting too high.

"When I bought that condo four years ago, taxes were high but they weren't outrageous," Mills said.

His monthly property taxes on the condo are $225, which is the same amount he pays in homeowner fees and electricity.

Cascos said the public is welcome to look at and get a copy of the county's budget for review. He said anyone who has suggestions on how the county can cut its budget is welcome to sit down with county officials and department heads.

"If you believe certain departments can make those cuts, then let's sit down with that elected official or department head and let's talk," Cascos said.

However, the judge added that he is not ready to start slashing jobs or cut the budget of law enforcement. The county's biggest ticket item is personnel.

The county could consider cutting pilot programs that are not generating revenue, he said. One program under the microscope is the county's warrant officer program that was initiated about a year ago.

Although the county has requested reports from the justices of the peace for whom the warrant officers work for, none have been returned.

"We've asked for reports from the judges. They gave general statements but weren't really specific," Precinct 4 Commissioner Edna Tamayo said.

A second public hearing on the county's proposed budget is set for 5 p.m. on Sept. 5 during Commissioners Court meeting.