Starr County commissioners approve routine minutes, financial reports, licenses and personnel items
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Summary
At its Jan. 13 meeting, the Starr County Commissioners Court approved minutes, vendor and claims lists, several financial and budget items, a late-night liquor license for a Roma restaurant, contracts for audit work and personnel actions after an executive session.
The Starr County Commissioners Court on Jan. 13 approved routine minutes and a slate of financial and administrative items, including vendor and claims lists, budget amendments and personnel matters addressed in executive session.
The court voted to approve minutes, the vendor list and claims without recorded roll-call tallies. County Judge opened the meeting and presided over routine approvals that were carried by voice vote.
Financial reports and audits: Tax Assessor Delia Salinas reported that current collections for December 2024 totaled $2,331,525.48 for Starr County entities, compared with $1,862,529.79 in December 2023; delinquent collections for December 2024 were $182,746.34. County Clerk Gonzales reported total remittances to the treasurer for December 2024 of $28,003.95. Sheriff Molina reported jail housing numbers and capacity: the jail operates at about 300 beds with a waiver allowing an additional 46 beds; the facility regularly manages federal and Hidalgo County inmates and maintains space for local inmates.
The court approved motions to engage CPA Adrian Webb for audits of the international bridge (fee cited at approximately $10,000) and the county gas system (fee cited at approximately $7,000). The court also approved the county's annual mileage rate and the 2025 investment policy required by statute.
County Treasurer Rosales reported that Starr County's cash balances totaled $10,554,004.59 across funds as of Dec. 31, 2024. Rosales said the county's investment portfolio included $3,664,009.20 in certificates of deposit and that the portfolio complied with the Texas Public Funds Investment Act. The treasurer said several CDs were renewing and that the county had negotiated renewal rates near 3.9–4.0 percent.
The court approved a request from Grande Real restaurant and bar in the City of Roma to serve alcohol until 2 a.m.; the court noted the business already had city approval. The court approved a donation from ETT to the Starr County Fire Department Christian Board and a series of budget amendments and corrections (items 17–25 on the agenda). The court also accepted the auditor's unaudited reports and other routine financial summaries.
Executive session and outcomes: The court recessed for executive session pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 551.074 to discuss personnel matters including order of salaries, safety committee membership and age thresholds for volunteer fire personnel. After returning to open session, the court approved the order of salaries as presented, approved the safety committee members as proposed and left the age requirements for volunteer fire personnel unchanged. The court discussed the county's 2025 accident prevention plan and took no action, scheduling further review at a later meeting.
No roll-call vote tallies were recorded in the transcript for the items listed; motions were moved and seconded and carried by voice vote. The meeting adjourned shortly after the executive-session actions.
