Atkinson's port annexation proposal premature

City Commissioner Charlie Atkinson seems to have taken some liberties in announcing Tuesday that state and federal officials support his proposal to annex the Port of Brownsville.

Atkinson said at Tuesday's City Commission meeting that U.S. Rep. Solomon P. Ortiz, state Rep. Rene O. Oliveira, state Sen. Eddie Lucio and his son state Rep. Eddie Lucio III want the annexation.

But not everyone seems to be on board. Others just heard about the proposal for the first time. Some don't see it happening in their lifetime.

Ortiz didn't leave any doubt about his stance Friday.

"I have not taken a position on this issue," he said in a written statement. "Any discussion about annexation of the Port of Brownsville would first need to be worked out between local officials, and then should be presented to the people for their approval."

Atkinson said Friday that The Brownsville Herald "might" have misquoted him.

Lucio Jr. declined to comment on Atkinson's proposed annexation while Lucio III did not return a request for comment.

Oliveira was more amendable and receptive.

"The port may benefit by receiving certain city services in addition to city-supported infrastructure improvements," he said. "Likewise, the city could potentially benefit by increasing its tax base."

"I stated to Commissioner Atkinson that all the stakeholders need to do their own cost benefit analyses, iron out many issues, and be in agreement, before I would commit to carry legislation regarding annexation. Above all, I would want voter approval of any proposed annexation," Oliveira further said in a written statement.

As for Atkinson, he said he's been getting calls from Brownsville people who question why they have to pay taxes to the port when they don't get anything in return.

He said that with annexation, businesses at the port would pay the city taxes.

Atkinson also said that some port commissioners, who he didn't want to identify, approached him, "about Brownsville helping the port to grow more," and said that absent annexation, "there is no other way to help the port. Brownsville needs to stop involving itself in investments that don't end up coming to benefit the city. There is no special interest on my part."

"Anybody who talks against it, to me, is special interest," said Atkinson. who said he's been warned that he'll lose his next election with this proposal. "I don't care. My generation doesn't care about old politics. My generation wants to move forward and put Brownsville on the map."

Port CEO Eddie Campirano said there has been no discussion on the issue.

"The big question is what benefit would be derived by annexing the port?" he said.

Noting that Texas is the only state that does not financially support ports, Campirano said that the Brownsville Navigation District's low tax base provides the port with the edge to compete with other ports.

"We don't have the luxury of tapping any kind of funds to help us attract business," he said.

He called for extensive discussion and a clear understanding of what benefits, if any, would be derived.

Campirano said that the benefit that the port brings to the community is 8,000 jobs.

"We are the largest employer in the region," he said.

Fellow City Commissioner Anthony Troiani said Saturday that before he could support the proposal to annex the port, he would need to know what infrastructure needs it has and what it would cost to fulfill those needs.

"I don't want the city to drown economically by annexing the port. We need to look at the whole picture before we make a multi-million dollar decision," Troiani said.

With the last 30 days, Atkinson approached BND Board Chairman Martin Arambula.

"It was very informal. He just said we need to annex the port, but that's as far as it went," Arambula recounted Friday.

Arambula said he had been "very much surprised" that Atkinson announced the proposal without so much as formal discussions. "Everything needs to go through proper channels," Arambula said.

"It's terribly important to have the city manager and port director first come together and talk about this and report to the respective officials. It's very premature at this point," he said.

Arambula's understanding is that the city cannot arbitrarily annex BND because it is a special district and a political subdivision. Annexation also would require the BND's board approval and an election where voters would decide the issue.

Mayor Pat M. Ahumada Jr. doesn't anticipate annexing the port, "under any scenario."

"It's not going to happen, well, anything is possible in this world, but is it practical, doable, and likely? I don't think so," Ahumada said.

Atkinson said he again would bring the matter up after the BND board elections in May.