Collective bargaining question to go to voters

The Cameron County Commissioners Court agreed Wednesday to send to the voters a decision on whether to allow col-lective bargaining for employees of the Sheriff’s Department.

The Cameron County Sheriff’s Officers Association had sought the vote, which will take place during the general elec-tion on Nov. 8.

At press time, Commissioners Court was still discussing the $72.3 million budget for the 2011-2012 fiscal year and how to close a $3 million gap between projected revenue and expenditures.

The vote sending the collective bargaining decision to the voters was 3-1, with County Judge Carlos H. Cascos casting the only dissenting vote. He said he couldn’t support sending the measure to voters because, as he put it, “what do you do about the other thousand county employees. I’ve got a concern about that.”

Commissioners Sofia C. Benavides, Ernie L. Hernandez Jr. and Dan Sanchez approved the item. Commissioner David Garza was not present at the meeting.

Although Benavides approved it, she warned the public that taxes could go up if the taxpayers approve it.

“I will warn the public it is going to come back and it may cost the taxpayers in the end,” Benavides said.