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Mercedes ISD board deadlocks on delinquent-tax contract, authorizes 90-day extension with Linebarger
Summary
Trustees twice failed to award the district's delinquent-tax contract after split votes. Following executive session, the board authorized President Marcos Garcia and legal counsel to negotiate a 90-day extension with Linebarger to continue collections.
The Mercedes Independent School District Board of Trustees failed in two successive votes to award its delinquent-tax collection contract but later authorized a temporary extension with the incumbent firm. After presentations from Linebarger, Attorneys at Law (Kelley Salazar) and Perdue, Brandon, Fielder, Collins & Mott LLP (Janelle Caso), trustees could not reach a majority for either proposal.
A motion by Trustee Lucy Delgado to award the contract to Linebarger (seconded by Trustee Nancy Vallejo) did not carry; Trustee Orlando Rodriguez abstained while three trustees voted against the motion. A subsequent motion to award the contract to Perdue (moved by Pete Martinez, III and seconded by Oscar Hernandez) also failed to secure a majority. President Marcos J. Garcia then moved the board into executive session to consult legal counsel on a specific question related to the contract.
After returning from executive session, trustees voted to "authorize the board president and legal counsel to negotiate a 90 day extension with Linebarger Attorney at Law to continue with collection of delinquent taxes," a motion moved by Trustee Nancy Vallejo that passed with four votes in favor, two opposed and one abstention. Trustee Orlando Rodriguez abstained; Trustees Eddie Howell, Jr. and Oscar Hernandez cast the "no" votes recorded during the final action. The extension preserves continuity of collection services while the board seeks a longer-term decision.
The board record shows the two competitive presentations and four recorded roll-call votes on the item. No long-term contract award was finalized at the Aug. 13 meeting.
