Commissioners set March 1 as early termination date for Cameron County TIRZ No. 1, to pursue interlocal participation with Brownsville

After a public hearing, the Cameron County Commissioners Court voted to amend the termination date for Cameron County Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone No. 1 to March 1, 2025, to allow time to negotiate an interlocal agreement with the City of Brownsville.

Ramiro Aleman of the county’s economic development office told the court that the county-created TIRZ had never collected funds or appointed a TIRZ board; the zone was roughly 51 acres along the riverfront between Gateway and the B& M bridge in the downtown riverfront area. City of Brownsville officials have agreed to expand the city’s downtown TIRZ boundaries to incorporate the county’s area and plan to appoint a 10-member downtown TIRZ board. County staff reported they will seek to enter an interlocal agreement that would provide Cameron County three appointments to the amended city board.

The court opened the public hearing, heard staff presentation and public questions, and unanimously approved an amended order (Order No. 2025001001) setting March 1 as the termination date to permit additional time for interlocal negotiations.

County staff said the interlocal will define which funding components are authorized for use inside the amended TIRZ and that the county’s legal team will work with the city to draft the interlocal for return to the court. The court also directed staff to report the termination to the Texas Comptroller as required by law.

The action does not itself adopt a finance or project plan; those items will be developed by the TIRZ board and returned to the court for approval.