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Resident urges Hidalgo County to limit spending and tax increases during open forum
Summary
Fern McClarty used open forum to urge commissioners to limit spending, curb bond sales and avoid tax waivers for wind energy developers, saying bond interest costs currently total about $33 million annually and warning that higher spending burdens local residents.
During the meeting’s open forum, resident Fern McClarty urged the commissioners to limit government spending and questioned the county’s use of bond financing and tax incentives. McClarty said the county spends about $33 million a year on interest for outstanding bonds and warned that continuing to increase spending will burden residents in one of the state’s poorer counties.
She suggested the court avoid tax waivers for wind-farm developers and criticized perceived preferential treatment for particular developers. McClarty also asked for more detail on agenda item 19A and questioned who validates vendor and school giveaway purchases listed in backup materials.
County staff acknowledged her questions and said the auditor’s office and procurement staff would follow up on details about audit language and vendor selection. The court did not take action on the points raised during open forum; the remarks were recorded as public comment.
