Cameron County court requires prior approval for new mobile and communication services to curb rising bills

The Cameron County Commissioners Court on Oct. 21, 2025 approved a policy requiring that any new mobile or communications services — including cell phones, tablets, laptops with data plans and new phone lines — receive Commissioner's Court approval before purchase orders are issued.

County procurement and finance staff told commissioners that the county has seen a steady increase in mobile-service bills over recent years and that some lines or services were being billed but not used. Staff proposed the change to ensure the funds are available in departmental budgets before procurement, and to allow the court to review and prevent unbudgeted recurring costs.

“We would like the Court to require that this come before the commissioner's court prior, so we can verify that the funds are in their budget before they're purchased,” a county staff member said during the presentation. Commissioners asked staff to compile an exact inventory and number of active lines and to work with the purchasing and auditor's offices on an audit to identify unused or unnecessary services.

Commissioner Gottesel moved to approve the policy change; the motion carried. Commissioners and staff said follow-up work will include an audit or inventory of existing mobile lines and a review of departmental usage to identify lines that can be cancelled or consolidated.

Why it matters: County officials said recurring mobile and data service costs have grown and sometimes were not anticipated in departmental budgets. Requiring court approval before adding new lines aims to constrain future unbudgeted spending and produce savings through inventory control and potential consolidation.

What’s next: County staff will coordinate with the auditor's office and purchasing to compile an inventory of active lines, identify unused services, and return findings to the court for possible further action.