Eagle Pass city to seek retroactive approval for MPO indirect cost reimbursement

The Eagle Pass Metropolitan Planning Organization policy board voted unanimously to support the City of Eagle Pass’ request to seek state and Federal Highway Administration approval for indirect cost reimbursement for administrative services the city provided as MPO fiscal agent.

MPO staff explained the reimbursement covers shared services — human resources, accounting, city secretary, city attorney and other city staff duties — that the city provides to the MPO rather than the MPO hiring separate employees. "This indirect cost request and the rate and amount that has been proposed does need to go through the state and FHWA for approval," the MPO director said.

Staff recommended the board authorize submission of the indirect-cost request to TxDOT and FHWA and, if the federal/state approval permits, set the effective date retroactive to the beginning of the fiscal year to cover services already rendered. "So, basically, we're looking for your approval, potentially, if you're in agreement to the beginning of the fiscal year as they've been provided all this time, subject to FHWA and TxDOT approval," the MPO director said.

A motion by Commissioner Ramos, seconded by Sarah Hidalgo Cook, carried unanimously to authorize submission of the indirect-cost reimbursement request to state and federal reviewers and to accept the effective date deemed appropriate by those reviewers.

Staff cautioned that the effective date will be set by TxDOT and FHWA once they review the submitted rate and documentation; the board’s approval authorizes the submission but is contingent on the state and federal determinations recorded during the review process.