Colonia Azul residents ask for streetlights and speed bumps; public commenter criticizes county budget increase

Three residents from Colonia Azul urged Hidalgo County officials to extend safety improvements to their neighborhood and asked for more street lighting and traffic calming measures.

"My name is Irasema Gomez. I come from the Colonia Azul," said Irasema Gomez, who thanked Commissioner David Fuentes for recent street repairs and asked him to help secure public lighting for the colonia. Norma Mireles, who said the street had been in poor condition for more than 30 years, asked the court to install speed bumps to protect children who ride bikes in the afternoon.

The requests were made during the court's public‑comment period; commissioners accepted the comments for the record but did not take immediate action to commit funds during the meeting.

In a separate public comment, Fern McClarity criticized the county's fiscal trajectory. "The proposed budget for 2026 is $429,700,000, which is 36% higher than last year's approved budget of $316,000,000," she said, citing the numbers as the basis for her concern that bond sales and rollovers were inflating future tax burdens. McClarity urged the court to delay issuing bonds until plans are complete and to consider tax reductions when obligations mature.

Why it matters: The Colonia Azul appeals highlight pedestrian and lighting gaps in unincorporated neighborhoods; the budget comments foreshadow local scrutiny of the 2026 budget and bond decisions as the court finalizes year‑end appropriations.

What happens next: The court recorded the comments and continues budget work on subsequent agenda items and future meetings.