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Resident urges action as new Hidalgo County courthouse remains unfinished; raises bond-interest concerns
Summary
A resident told the Commissioners Court the new Hidalgo County courthouse remains visibly unfinished seven years after groundbreaking and criticized the county's bond borrowing and $33 million in interest costs; county staff responded with procedural clarifications.
During the Commissioners Court open forum, Fern McClarty sharply criticized the new county courthouse project as still under construction seven years after the 2019 groundbreaking and questioned borrowing decisions and the fiscal impact on residents.
As she addressed the court, McClarty noted visible scaffolding and unfinished exterior work and said the building’s status undermines public confidence. “It is not finished and it is not nearly finished,” McClarty said, adding that the 2026 county budget was 36% greater than 2025 and that the county is “paying $33,000,000 in interest on bonds.”
County staff responded that agenda and fund reports are prepared by the county auditor’s office and that staff will follow up to ensure the fund report appears on the agenda in a timely manner. A court staff member also described that light-switch replacements and warranty work on the new courthouse are being coordinated and that specialized replacement parts are under warranty review.
The court did not record any new appropriations or changes to bond authorizations during the session; McClarty’s remarks were taken during the public comment period and the court said staff would communicate with the county auditor’s office about agenda reporting.
The court’s consent and procurement actions continued after public comment, and McClarty’s concerns will remain a public-record comment for follow-up by the judge’s office and county departments.
