Sep 15, 2025 Commissioners Court Regular

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THE VETERANS CAPITOL OF THE USA. FROM INSIDE THE COMMISSIONERS COURTROOM OF THE ENRIQUE MORENO

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COMMISSIONERS COURT IS MEETING IN REGULAR OPEN SESSION. TODAY WE ARE JOINED BY ASL

[1. OPEN MEETING]

[2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]

[3. INVOCATION]

AND I FIGURED IT'S NOT ONLY A PRIVILEGE, IT'S OUR OBLIGATION. SO THE NUMBER ONE IS THE SAME AS I HAD MY COFFEE. WE ARE OBLIGATED TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE TO HAVE THEIR COFFEE. WE STARTED WITH AN ACT OF CHARITY. AND I HOPE EVERYONE, WHEN YOU GO TO YOUR HOMES, TO YOUR OFFICES, ALSO THINK ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE AND CARE FOR THEM. WE ARE WEAK FROM THE MOST HOLIEST DAY IN THE JEWISH CALENDAR, AND THIS NEXT COMING TUESDAY WILL BE ROSH HASHANAH, THE JEWISH HOLIDAY. JEWISH NEW YEAR THE JEWISH TRADITION. 5786 YEARS AGO. THIS COMING TUESDAY WAS THE DAY ADAM AND EVE WERE CREATED, WHEN ADAM WAS CREATED TO LOOK THE BEAUTIFUL WORLD.

EVERYTHING WAS THERE FOR HIM. AND HE ASKED HIMSELF ONE QUESTION, WHO CREATED ME? AND HE CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THE CREATOR WAS GOD ALMIGHTY. AT THAT POINT, ADAM ANNOUNCED, GOD IS THE KING OF THE WORLD. THAT'S CRYING, GOD IS THE KING, AND HE HAS A MISSION FOR ME, AND HE WANTS ME TO DO SOMETHING IN THIS WORLD. JEWISH TRADITION. DURING THIS TIME, BEFORE ROSH HASHANAH, WE SOUND THE SHOFAR AS A CALL TO WAKE UP. WE ALL SEEMED LIKE AFTER A WHILE WE ALL FELL ASLEEP AND WE FORGET OUR THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR MISSION, WHAT GOD WANTS FROM US.

SO I'LL DO THIS ACT OF SIGNING OF THE SHOFAR A LITTLE BIT. WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS COMING TUESDAY, WITH YOUR PERMISSION. ARE.

GOD ALMIGHTY AS FULFILLMENT OF YOUR COMMITMENT AS YOU GAVE IT OVER TO NOAH AND HIS CHILDREN. COMMIT. NUMBER SEVEN, YOUR COMMENDED TO YOUR DEVOTED SERVANT MOSES, THAT ALL NATIONS SHOULD ESTABLISH GOVERNMENTS AND COURTHOUSES IN ORDER TO KEEP JUSTICE, PEACE AND HARMONY AMONG ALL PEOPLE ON EARTH. ALMIGHTY GOD, WE STAND BEFORE

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YOUR SON IS WELL ALSO. RABBI BECAME VERY GOOD FRIENDS AND HAS CONTRIBUTED A LOT TO THIS IDEA OF BEING GENEROUS EVERY SINGLE DAY. THAT IF YOU'RE GENEROUS AND YOU ALWAYS GET UP WANTING TO HELP OTHERS, THAT WE HAVE A MUCH BETTER COMMUNITY. SO WE THANK YOU FOR EVERY OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU COME HERE. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP, RABBI, THANK YOU TO SAY IN HEBREW FOR A NEW YEAR, WE SAY, SHANA TOVA, GOOD YEAR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. JUDGE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE SOME OPENING COMMENTS BEFORE WE BEGIN? YES, PLEASE. THANK YOU. AND JUST WELCOME TO OUR BEAUTIFUL NEW REMODELED COMMISSIONERS COURT. SOME OF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN HERE.

THIS IS A LOT OF CHANGES AND IT JUST LOOKS BEAUTIFUL. I DIDN'T MEAN TO BLEND IN WITH THE BACKGROUND AND AS CAMOUFLAGE, BUT BUT BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE. WE ALSO, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, WE'RE ALSO HAVING ONE MONDAY WOULD BE MOSTLY BUSINESS. TODAY WE DO HAVE ONE ONE RESOLUTION, BUT TYPICALLY WE'LL HAVE BUSINESS ON ONE MONDAY. THE FOLLOWING MONDAY WILL HAVE THE RESOLUTIONS AND SOMETHING THAT WE ALL LOVE TO DO IS RECOGNIZE INDIVIDUALS AND THE PEOPLE THAT COME HERE, THAT THAT SHARE THEIR LIVES AND DO GREAT THINGS FOR OUR COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY DURING SUCH A SO MANY THINGS THAT WE'VE SEEN, YOU KNOW, STARTING FROM, YOU KNOW, CHARLIE KIRK AND WHAT'S HAPPENED AND SOME OF THE POLITICAL UPRISING AND, AND THE HATRED THAT'S OUT THERE THAT WHEN WE DO THE RESOLUTIONS, IT SORT OF SHOWS THE GOOD THINGS ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY, THE GOOD THINGS ABOUT SOCIETY, SO THAT WE COULD BALANCE WITH ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE THIS WEEKEND. I JUST WANT TO IT'S JUST BEEN AMAZING HOW OUR COMMUNITY CAN GET TOGETHER. WE HAD SO MANY. WE HAD THE CHIHUAHUAS, WE HAD THE WARNER BROTHERS WAS NICE ENOUGH TO WANT TO THANK US FOR THE NEW MOVIE THAT CAME OUT. IT WAS VERY SPECIAL. THE MOVIE, ONE BATTLE AFTER THE OTHER FROM WARNER BROTHERS IS A HUGE THING FOR US, BECAUSE IT SORT OF OPENED UP THIS IDEA THAT WE'RE VERY AVAILABLE AND READY FOR THE FILM INDUSTRY, AND SO THEY WERE ABLE TO TO DO THAT. WE ALSO HAD EL GRITO, WHICH HAD, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE SHOWED UP, BUT IT SHOWED HOW OUR COMMUNITY CAN COME TOGETHER, HAVE FUN. THERE WAS NO DISRUPTIONS, EVERYBODY HAVING A GOOD TIME. BUT JUST TO BE ABLE TO BE IN A COMMUNITY THAT PEOPLE CAN GET TOGETHER AND NOT HAVE THE FEARS THAT OTHER COMMUNITIES HAVE VERY FEW COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, THEY DON'T WANT TO COME AND GET TOGETHER. FOR ALL THE OTHER FEARS AND THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING TO THEM, BUT OUR COMMUNITY, I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR BEING ABLE TO CELEBRATE, YOU KNOW, THE EL GRITO AND, YOU KNOW, TODAY THE GRITO IN JUAREZ AS WELL, BUT ALSO THE FACT THAT WE'RE GOING INTO HISPANIC MONTH AND WE HAVE SO MANY HISPANICS HAVE CONTRIBUTED SO MUCH TO THE TO THE USA. I MEAN, THE MEXICAN COMMUNITIES, INDIVIDUALS FROM LULAC TO ALL THESE INCREDIBLE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE TO THE BEST PART OF THE UNITED STATES, WHETHER IT'S ECONOMY, WHETHER IT'S ART, MUSIC. SO AS WE START, HISPANIC WEEK, WE'LL BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT THAT HISPANICS HAVE HAD ON ON OUR COMMUNITY AND OBVIOUSLY IN OUR NATION. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. AND THIS IS I

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[4. CONSENT AGENDA]

[A. Approve and adopt a resolution designating September 12 – 21, 2025, as Welcoming Week in El Paso County, Texas. Iliana Holguin, Commissioner, Precinct 3, 915-273-3594]

AND THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT RESOLUTION THAT THE COURT CONSIDERS EVERY YEAR. I CERTAINLY DIDN'T WANT TO MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY, REALLY LAY FORTH OUR OUR BELIEFS HERE AT THE COUNTY THAT WE TAKE, THE FACT THAT WE ARE SUCH A WELCOMING COMMUNITY SO IMPORTANTLY, AND IT'S A BIG PART OF WHO WE ARE. SO I DIDN'T WANT TO MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY.

SO AGAIN, I APOLOGIZE THAT WE'RE A LITTLE BIT OFF SCHEDULE, BUT I DIDN'T THINK WE WOULD WANT TO MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TO CONSIDER THIS RESOLUTION. SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND READ IT AND THEN WE'LL HEAR FROM SOME OF OUR LOCAL NGOS. WHEREAS WELCOMING WEEK IS A NATIONAL CELEBRATION THAT BRINGS TOGETHER PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES TO BUILD CONNECTIONS ACROSS LINES OF DIFFERENCE AND TO AFFIRM THAT WE ALL BELONG. AND WHEREAS EL PASO COUNTY IS HOME TO LONGTIME RESIDENTS, NEW AMERICAN FAMILIES, IMMIGRANTS, REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS WHO CONTRIBUTE TO THE SOCIAL, CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC FABRIC OF OUR COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS WELCOMING WEEK REMINDS US THAT COMMUNITIES THRIVE AND SUCCEED WHEN COMMUNITIES STAND FOR WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE POLICIES THAT FOSTER BELONGING, PARTICIPATION AND SHARED PROSPERITY. AND WHEREAS, THE THEME FOR WELCOMING WEEK 2025 STORIES WE SHARE INVITES US TO RECOGNIZE, HONOR AND TAKE PRIDE IN THE STORIES OF OUR FAMILIES, NEIGHBORS, AND COMMUNITIES.

STORIES THAT CONNECT US TO ONE ANOTHER AND THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE BROADER NARRATIVE OF AMERICAN HISTORY. AND WHEREAS EL PASO COUNTY CELEBRATES ITS COMMITMENT TO BEING A WELCOMING COMMUNITY WHERE ALL INDIVIDUALS ARE VALUED AND INCLUDED NOT IN SPITE OF, BUT BECAUSE OF THE DIVERSITY OF THEIR PLACE OF ORIGIN, LANGUAGE OR BACKGROUND.

AND WHEREAS STANDING AS A WELCOMING COMMUNITY ALSO MEANS REJECTING DANGEROUS RHETORIC AND HARMFUL POLICIES THAT SEEK TO DIVIDE, EXCLUDE OR MARGINALIZE INDIVIDUALS, AND INSTEAD CHOOSING UNITY, RESPECT AND DIGNITY FOR ALL. AND WHEREAS THE COUNTY RECOGNIZES THE TIRELESS CONTRIBUTIONS OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, INSTITUTIONS, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, AND LOCAL RESIDENTS WHO WORK DAILY TO ADVANCE INCLUSION, INTEGRATION AND UNDERSTANDING. AND WHEREAS, EL PASO COUNTY REAFFIRMS ITS DEDICATION TO BEING A PROUD AND INVITING COMMUNITY AND TO CARRYING FORWARD THE SPIRIT OF BELONGING THAT DEFINES OUR REGION. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 12TH THROUGH THE 21ST, 2025 AS WELCOMING

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THANK YOU. WELCOME. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER. TODAY'S RESOLUTION AND THE REST OF THE COURT, WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY. MY NAME IS STEPHANIE. I'M WITH THE OFFICE OF NEW AMERICANS, EL PASO COUNTY. WE'RE HERE TODAY WITH LORI GONZALEZ FLORES, PROGRAM MANAGER OF OUR OFFICE. CLAUDIA JIMENEZ, OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH COORDINATOR. CONNIE CONSUELO ESTA AQUI TAMBIÉN. SHE'S OUR AMERICORPS VISTA VOLUNTEER WHO'S BEEN AN AMAZING CONTRIBUTION TO OUR OFFICE. AND GIOVANNA WITH UTA OH TWO.

GIOVANNA ONE FROM ONE FROM UTEP, ONE FROM GRF WHO'S HERE TODAY. AND OF COURSE, WITH ALL OF OUR AMAZING MISS DIANA, WHO'S ALSO HELPING US WITH OUR CITIZENSHIP CLASSES THAT WE STARTED THIS YEAR, AND OF COURSE, OUR AMAZING COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO WE WORK WITH DAY IN, DAY OUT AND WHO REALLY HELP LEAD US AND GUIDE US IN THE WORK THAT WE DO IN THE COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TODAY'S RESOLUTION. BIT OF INTRODUCTION, WELCOMING WEEK. IT'S A NATIONAL INITIATIVE FROM WELCOMING AMERICA, WHICH IS A NATIONAL NGO WHICH ENCOURAGES COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO REAFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO OUR VIBRANT, INCLUSIVE SOCIETY THAT WE HAVE. AND TODAY, WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE LOLA OKUNOLA FROM WELCOMING AMERICA HERE WITH US TODAY. SHE'LL BE SPEAKING IN A LITTLE BIT AS WELL. BUT REALLY, WE TAKE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY CELEBRATE THIS YEAR, MAYBE MORE IMPORTANTLY THAN THAN OTHERS, BUT REALLY CELEBRATE OUR BINATIONAL, BICULTURAL COMMUNITY AND REALLY FOCUS ON THE POSITIVITY, THE BEAUTIFUL ASPECTS OF THAT SOCIETY THAT THAT WE'RE PART OF. AS PART OF THIS, WE PUT TOGETHER A SMALL COOKBOOK. WE INVITED MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO SHARE IMPORTANT RECIPES ABOUT WHAT MAKES EL PASO HOME FOR THEM. AND WE'RE SHARING THAT WITH YOU GUYS TODAY. AND WE ALSO HAVE COPIES ONLINE AND SOME COPIES IN THE LOBBY THAT WE'RE HAPPY TO SHARE TODAY. BUT REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR ONGOING SUPPORT. AND WITH THAT, I WILL PASS IT OVER TO LOLA JUST TO SHARE A FEW WORDS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS LOLA OKUNOLA AND I'M THE SENIOR REGIONAL MANAGER FOR THE SOUTH AT WELCOMING AMERICA. I'M TRULY HONORED TO JOIN YOU HERE IN EL PASO AS WE CELEBRATE THE PASSAGE OF WELCOMING WEEK. THIS YEAR'S THEME, STORIES WE SHARE, REMINDS US OF THE POWER OF STORYTELLING TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER. EACH STORY, WHETHER FROM AN IMMIGRANT FAMILY MAKING EL PASO THEIR HOME OR FROM LONGTIME RESIDENTS WHO HAVE HELPED SHAPE THIS CITY FOR GENERATIONS, ADDS TO THE BEAUTIFUL AND DIVERSE FABRIC OF THIS COMMUNITY. WELCOMING WEEK IS NOT ONLY A LOCAL CELEBRATION, IT IS ALSO A GLOBAL MOVEMENT. THIS WEEK, MORE THAN 1500 EVENTS ARE TAKING PLACE ACROSS SIX COUNTRIES AND 47 STATES, ALL LIFTING UP THE VALUES OF INCLUSION, BELONGING AND CONNECTION. BY JOINING THIS EFFORT, EL PASO IS SHOWING ONCE AGAIN THAT IT IS A COMMUNITY WHERE EVERYONE HAS A PLACE AND EVERYONE'S STORY MATTERS. THE PASSAGE OF THIS WELCOMING WEEK RESOLUTION IS AN IMPORTANT STEP. IT DEMONSTRATES THAT THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO BEING WELCOMING IS NOT JUST IN WORDS, BUT IN ACTION. IT IS A MESSAGE TO EVERY RESIDENT, NO MATTER WHERE THEY WERE BORN, THAT THEY ARE VALUED AND THAT THEY BELONG HERE. AS WE CELEBRATE TODAY, I ENCOURAGE ALL OF US TO CONTINUE SHARING OUR STORIES AND LISTENING DEEPLY TO ONE ANOTHER.

IN DOING SO, WE NOT ONLY STRENGTHEN EL PASO, BUT ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO A LARGER MOVEMENT THAT IS CHANGING COMMUNITIES AROUND THE WORLD. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE PART OF THIS SPECIAL MOMENT WITH YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU, JUDGE

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GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS ANA AND I WORK FOR THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF THE RIO GRANDE. BORN AND RAISED IN EL PASO, LIVE IN PRECINCT THREE. WE SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION AS PEOPLE OF FAITH. WE AGREE. WE STRIVE AND TO SHARE LOVE TO ALL IN OUR COMMUNITY. BEING WELCOMED, BEING INCLUSIVE. WE ALSO STAND AGAINST THESE DANGEROUS POLICIES. WE STAND FIRMLY AGAINST THE CRIMINALIZATION OF MIGRANTS. THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A LONG TIME, BUT NOW IT'S IN THE FOREFRONT. WE STAND AGAINST THE LACK OF DUE PROCESS. PEOPLE AND FAMILY ARE STILL GETTING DETAINED, AND AFTER THEIR COURT HEARINGS JUST DOWN THE STREET, THERE'S SOME RIGHT NOW HAPPENING. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NOT SHOWING UP, BUT SOME OF THEM ARE. IT'S DEVASTATING TO SEE THEM GET DETAINED. LAST TIME NO ICE WAS DOWNSTAIRS, THANK GOD. SO THESE TWO FAMILIES WERE ABLE TO GO HOME AND PLEAD THEIR CASE FREE, NOT IN THE DETENTION CENTER. AND I THOUGHT THAT'S THE WAY IT SHOULD BE. THEY END UP IN THESE EITHER GETTING DEPORTED OR IN THE HORRIBLE DETENTION CENTERS. THEY ARE HORRIBLE. THEY ARE EVIL. HERE IN THE EL PASO PROCESSING CENTER RIGHT NOW IT IS OVERCROWDED. IN ONE OF THE PODS THAT HOLDS 100 WOMEN, 30 OF THEM ARE SLEEPING ON THE FLOOR. THEY HAVE A LITTLE PAD.

ONE OF THE WOMEN THAT I VISIT TOLD ME THAT RECENTLY. SHE WAS SHOCKED BECAUSE A LADY I'M REALLY BAD WITH THE SPANISH 7010, I GET CONFUSED. I'M NOT SURE IF THE WOMAN WAS 60 OR 70, BUT SHE WAS GOT DESIGNED TO SLEEP ON THE FLOOR AND SO HER, THE PERSON THAT WAS SLEEPING WITH HER NEXT TO HER, WAS TRYING TO GET HER UP. BECAUSE AS I'M 50 AND IT'S HARD FOR ME TO GET UP FROM THE FLOOR NOW, THEN THE GUARD GOT MAD BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO TOUCH EACH OTHER. SO WHEN SHE SHE TOLD HER, WELL, SHE CAN'T GET UP THEN PLEASE HELP HER. SO THE GUARD WENT, HELPED HER GET UP AND ACTUALLY WALKED HER ALL THE WAY TO THE BATHROOM. AND THE LADY SAID WHEN THE GUARD TURNED AROUND, THE GUARD HAD TEARS IN HER EYES. WHY? BECAUSE THAT WOMAN SHOULD NOT. A CRIMINAL SHOULD NOT BE IN THAT PLACE. THE TENSION IS STRONG THERE RIGHT NOW. THERE'S A LOT OF FIGHTING, ESPECIALLY IN THE MEN'S DORMITORY, AND PEOPLE ARE LOSING HOPE. THIS IS HAPPENING IN OUR CITY RIGHT NOW. THERE'S GOOD MEDICAL CARE IS LACKING.

THIS IS EVIL, AND IT IS NOT WELCOMING. IT'S NOT COMPASSIONATE. IT IS NOT HUMANE.

THERE ARE 31,300 PLUS PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTRY IN THOSE EVIL PLACES RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE THE WE REJECT THE WE WE REJECT. AS THE RESOLUTION STATES, THESE HARMFUL POLICIES, WE CALL FOR COMPASSION. GOD SAYS, LIBERATE MY PEOPLE, DELIVER OUR MIGRANT COMMUNITY FROM THIS EVIL OF BEING CHASED AND IMPRISONED. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER OLGUIN, ELIANA OLGUIN, FOR THIS RESOLUTION, FOR YOUR COMPASSION AND ALWAYS FOR VOTING FOR THE PEOPLE, SOMETIMES AS THE SOLE VOICE. BUT THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HELLO, COMMISSIONERS. AGAIN. THE LANGUAGE OF THIS RESOLUTION

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ON BEHALF OF JRS USA, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN RECOGNIZING THE HUMANITY OF MIGRANTS, REFUGEES AND OTHER FORCIBLY DISPLACED PEOPLE, AND FOR FOSTERING A SPIRIT OF WELCOME HERE AT THE BORDER. AS AN ORGANIZATION, JESUIT REFUGEE SERVICES, AND WITH OUR OTHER MIGRANT ADVOCACY PARTNERS, WE FOLLOW THE MISSION OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST AND STANDING WITH OUR REFUGEE, MIGRANT, MIGRANT BROTHERS AND SISTERS, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE SAMANIEGO. COMMISSIONER. BUTLER.

COMMISSIONER. STOUT. COMMISSIONER AND COMMISSIONER. CORONADO. I WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE OFF OUR RESOLUTION BY EXTENDING A WARM INVITATION TO YOU AND ALL OF EL PASO TO JOIN US FOR THE EXCITING EVENTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE HAPPENING THROUGHOUT EL PASO. WE INVITE EVERYONE TO COME TOGETHER, CELEBRATE OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY, AND SHARE THEIR STORIES IN THE SPIRIT OF BELONGING. SO TODAY WE DO HOST A VIRTUAL CITIZENSHIP INFORMATIONAL SESSION. IT IS GOING TO BE FROM 2 TO 3. WE ARE ALSO GOING TO BE FROM 530 TO 730. WITH A LA TIENDA. THIS IS HOSTED BY IBARRA AND BORDERLAND RAINBOW CENTER. IT IS A ZINE WORKSHOP, A POTLUCK, AN OPEN MIC AND A POETRY NIGHT. WE ASK THAT YOU BRING A DISH IF YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE AND YOUR CREATIVITY. TOMORROW WE WILL BE OPENING OUR DOORS. OUR MAIN OFFICE IS ALWAYS OPEN, BUT THIS IS A COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE. WE ARE LOCATED AT 6314 DELTA DRIVE FROM 4 TO 6. THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO COME MEET THE TEAM AND SEE WHAT AVAILABLE SERVICES WE DO HAVE. ON THURSDAY WE DO HAVE A DOCUMENTARY SCREENING. THIS IS HOSTED BY BEN AND THE MAC. IT IS FROM 12 TO 1 AND THE NEXT SESSION WOULD BE FROM 2 TO 3. SO WE DO INVITE EVERYONE TO COME JOIN US. IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS, FEEL FREE TO CALL OUR OFFICE AT 915273 3485.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING EVERYONE THERE. THANK YOU FOR THE INVITE. ANYONE ELSE? NO.

WELL, OBVIOUSLY THE THE TIMING. AS I SAID EARLIER, THE TIMING COULDN'T BE BETTER OF WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH. AND THE STORYTELLING EL PASO AND OUR COMMUNITIES IN JUAREZ,

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AND SO WE SHOULD BE WELCOMING. AND SO WE THANK YOU. AND COMMISSIONER OLGUIN, AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU FOR THIS GREAT RESOLUTION AND FOR REMINDING US THAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT THE CHALLENGES ARE AND WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO, YOU KNOW, ADDRESS THOSE CHALLENGES. THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN. CAN I CAN I ASK YOU, COMMISSIONER? THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR FOR BEING HERE. REALLY THANK THE WORK OF OUR OFFICE OF NEW AMERICANS AND OUR COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT. AND FOR THE GUESTS THAT CAME TO SPEAK TODAY, YOU KNOW, WELCOMING WEEK, I THINK REALLY EMBODIES, YOU KNOW, OUR OUR CULTURE, OUR TRADITION, YOU KNOW, EVEN EVEN EVEN SOME OF OUR RELIGIONS, RIGHT? I THINK IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO SEE THIS DAY AND AGE HOW CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM HAS, HAS BEEN TAKING OVER PUBLIC DISCOURSE AND, AND REALLY SOMEHOW TWISTING THE BIBLE'S TEACHINGS AND, AND TWISTING CHRISTIAN TEACHINGS TO, TO WORK AGAINST MIGRANTS AND TO NOT BE WELCOMING. AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PASSAGES IN THIS, IN THIS CONTEXT, IN THE BIBLE IS, IS MATTHEW 2535 AND IT TALKS ABOUT IT SAYS, FOR I WAS HUNGRY AND YOU GAVE ME SOMETHING TO EAT, I WAS THIRSTY, AND YOU GAVE ME SOMETHING TO DRINK, AND I WAS A STRANGER, AND YOU INVITED ME IN.

THAT'S, I THINK, SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO REMEMBER EVERY SINGLE DAY AS WE COME ACROSS PEOPLE WHO ARE NEW IN THIS COUNTRY, WHO ARE WHO ARE JOINING US AND WHO ARE REALLY MAKING OUR SOCIETY, OUR COMMUNITY, OUR CITY AND OUR COUNTRY A BETTER PLACE. IT IS

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THANK YOU FOR.

OVER HERE, PLEASE. THREE. TWO. ONE.

THANK YOU.

ITEM NUMBER SIX IS PUBLIC COMMENT. WE DO HAVE SEVERAL SPEAKERS TO SPEAK ON. PUBLIC COMMENT. FIRST UP, WE HAVE MISS ELIZABETH CRAWFORD. AND JUST AS A REMINDER, THERE IS A FIVE MINUTE TIME LIMIT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND WE'LL BE KEEPING TIME. GOOD MORNING ELIZABETH.

[6. PUBLIC COMMENT]

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IN REALITY, THINGS ARE COMING TOGETHER ACCORDING TO GOD'S SOVEREIGN PLAN OF THE AGES. A BEAUTIFUL PASSAGE IN GOD'S WORD REGARDING A CORRECT VIEW TOWARD AUTHORITY IS FOUND IN TITUS CHAPTER THREE. THE APOSTLE PAUL, WRITING TO TITUS, A CHURCH LEADER, ON HOW CHRISTIANS ARE TO LIVE, PUT THEM IN MIND TO BE SUBJECT TO PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS, TO OBEY MAGISTRATES, TO BE READY TO EVERY GOOD WORK, TO SPEAK EVIL OF NO MAN, TO SLANDER, NO MAN, TO BE NO BRAWLER BUT GENTLE, SHOWING ALL MEEKNESS UNTO ALL MEN. FOR WE OURSELVES ALSO WERE SOMETIMES FOOLISH, DISOBEDIENT, DECEIVED, SERVING DIVERS LUSTS AND PLEASURES, LIVING IN MALICE AND ENVY, HATEFUL, AND HATING ONE ANOTHER. BUT AFTER THAT, THE KINDNESS AND LOVE OF GOD, OUR SAVIOR TOWARD MAN, APPEARED NOT BY WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH WE HAVE DONE, BUT ACCORDING TO HIS MERCY. HE SAVED US BY THE WASHING OF REGENERATION AND RENEWING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

THE APOSTLE PAUL IS INSTRUCTING THE CHURCH AT TITUS ON HOW TO LIVE AS GOOD CITIZENS, UPRIGHT CITIZENS, EVEN IN A WORLD GONE CRAZY. THIS IS THE DUTY OF A CHRISTIAN CITIZEN. THANK YOU SO MUCH. HOPE YOU HAVE A GOOD DAY. THANK YOU. HAVE A GOOD DAY. ELIZABETH. THANK YOU SIR. OUR NEXT SPEAKER WE HAVE MR. RON CARMEL. GOOD MORNING. WELCOME. GOOD MORNING. I APPRECIATE THE TIME. EXCUSE ME. GOT A LITTLE PROBLEM. I JUST WANTED TO COME DOWN HERE, AND YOU GUYS ARE GOING THROUGH SOME GROWING PAINS BECAUSE WE'RE GETTING READY TO DO A SHELTER, AND YOU'RE. YOU'VE GOT A STAFF. IT. YOU GOT TO GET VOLUNTEERS. YOU GOT TO GET EVERYTHING GOING. I WANT TO THANK. SORRY YOUR YOUR ANIMAL SERVICES PEOPLE. THEY HAVE HAD A JOB AND A HALF TRYING TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT. THEY'VE GOT NO SUPPORT FROM THE CITY OF EL PASO. ON HANDLING THE STRAYS. THE PEOPLE OF THE COMMUNITY. AND I'VE HEARD THEM. THEY'RE UPSET BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT PICKING UP STRAYS. THEY'VE GOT NO PLACE TO PUT THEM. THE CITY'S NOT HELPING. YOUR PEOPLE

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THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MR. PEDRO SIERRA. WELCOME, PEDRO. GOOD MORNING. COMMISSIONERS. JUDGE BUTLER STROUT, LEAN AND CORONADO.

TODAY I'M HERE BECAUSE I'M. THIS AWARD WAS GIVEN TO ME BY COMMISSIONER LINH. AND SHE WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO BELIEVED. BELIEVED IN ME. I MET HER, I MET HER A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, AND. AND CLINT. AND THEY'RE THE FIRST WE MET. WE WERE TALKING. WE WERE HAVING A CONVERSATION.

AND THE WAY I PRESENTED MYSELF WAS, I'M ONE OF. I'M A FAMOUS BOXER FROM FROM THE 80S. AND A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER, GUESS WHAT? I WAS HERE ASKING FOR HELP. I HAD A SPEED BUMP IN MY LIFE. WHICH WHICH I AM A PERSON WITH A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE, WHICH I'M PROUD TO SAY TODAY WE I OVERCAME THAT. I ALWAYS HAVE OBSTACLES IN MY LIFE AND I'VE ALWAYS JUMPED OVER THEM. SO TODAY I'M HERE BECAUSE SHE BROUGHT ME HERE. SHE BELIEVED IN ME. YOU'RE ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE WHO BELIEVED IN ME. NOT LIKE OTHERS, DAVID STROUD. HE DIDN'T BELIEVE IN ME. SO YOU BELIEVED IN ME. AND TODAY I'M ONE OF THE BEST OFFICIALS IN TEXAS. I'M THE BEST OFFICIAL IN TEXAS. I'M IN JUAREZ. I'M. I'M INTERNATIONAL. I'M DOING PRO EVENTS ALREADY AS A JUDGE, REFEREE, AND TODAY I'M JUST OVERWHELMED ABOUT BEING HAPPY FOR ME TODAY. BUT TODAY IS APPRECIATION FOR YOU, MISS LILIANA. THANK YOU FOR TRUSTING ME. YOUR YOUR STAFF, THEY'VE BEEN BEHIND ME ALL THE WAY. YOU KNOW, I SUFFERED THROUGH A LOT FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR WITH EMERGENCE WHO SUSPENDED MY SERVICES. SO LOOK AT ME NOW. I'M ON TOP OF THE WORLD. I'VE BROKEN MORE RECORDS THAN ANYBODY IN HISTORY. IN EL PASO. HISTORY, AS A BOXER, COACH, REFEREE. AND I'M STILL BREAKING RECORDS. I'M BROKEN NATIONAL RECORD, WHICH IS I'M THE ONLY GUY IN HISTORY TO EVER FIGHT WITH ONE EYE. I'M BLIND AND THAT IS SOMETHING TO BE VERY PROUD OF TODAY. THANK YOU. ELIANA. I WANT A PICTURE WITH YOU. YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND TAKE A PICTURE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, EVERYBODY. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, WE HAVE SIGNED UP, MR. CESAR STARK. WELCOME, MR. STARK. APPRECIATE IT. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. JUDGE, THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE TIME TO TO SPEAK OUT TODAY. MY NAME IS CESAR STARK. I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE EL PASO INDEPENDENT AUTOMOBILE DEALERS ASSOCIATION. AND WE'RE HERE THIS MORNING TO ASK FOR SOME SUPPORT FOR OUR COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR. YOU KNOW, FOR ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEES. AND I'LL BE BRIEF, AS FAR AS JULY 1ST, HOUSE BILL 718 CAME INTO EFFECT WHERE IT CHANGED, TOTALLY CHANGED THE WAY WE AS DEALERS DO BUSINESS. WE HAVE BEEN THROWN TO BECOME TITLE CLERKS NOW BECAUSE WE HAVE TO PROCESS OUR OWN PAPERWORK SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY TO THE COUNTY FOR THEM TO APPROVE. AND THAT WAY. AND ALL THIS CAME ABOUT BECAUSE OF THE DOING AWAY WITH THE PAPER TAGS. WE'RE NOW ISSUING METAL TAGS. SO NOW WE HAVE OVERWHELM OUR OUR COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR AS OF LAST WEEK, FRIDAY ON THE WEB DEALER, WHICH IS WHAT EVERY DEALER IN THE COUNTY IS USING TO PROCESS THIS PAPERWORK. WHAT IT USED TO TAKE A COUPLE OF DAYS TO TO PROCESS. NOW IT'S TAKING WEEKS. AS OF LAST FRIDAY, I BELIEVE THE AVERAGE WAS 14 DAYS BEHIND FOR A TOTAL OF OVER 6000 DEALS. THIS HAS REALLY AFFECTED THE WAY WE OPERATE. A LOT OF US AND I HAVE A LOT OF DEALERS HERE, MEMBERS OF MY BOARD OF DIRECTORS, WE'RE SMALL BUSINESS DEALERS, YOU KNOW, SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND HAVING TO WAIT 14 TO 15 DAYS TO

[01:00:01]

YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T. THAT'S FOR ONE. DO YOU IMAGINE WE HAVE TEN DEALERS THAT'S THAT HAS PUT A COUPLE OF DEALERS OUT OF BUSINESS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN'T FLOAT THAT AMOUNT.

NOT ONLY THAT, BUT FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC, THEY'RE COMING TO US UPSET, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THEY'RE THINKING IT'S THE DEALER THAT'S NOT PROCESSING THE PAPERWORK AND THEY'RE GETTING PULLED OVER FOR HAVING METAL PLATES AND NOT A STICKER ON THEIR WINDSHIELD. BUT IT'S NOT REALLY US. I MEAN, IT'S WE'RE ON THE ON THE WAIT LIST. AND IF FOR SOME REASON IT SITS UNDER THE 14 DAYS AND THEY GET A REJECTION FOR WE FORGOT TO, YOU KNOW, PUT A A DOT ON THE I OR CROSS A T, IT GETS SENT BACK TO US FOR CORRECTION. WE CORRECT IT, WE SEND IT BACK.

WELL GUESS WHAT. THAT GOES TO THE BACK OF THE LINE AGAIN FOR ANOTHER 14 DAYS. SO BASICALLY WHAT WE'RE ASKING IS FOR YOU GUYS TO, TO CONSIDER, YOU KNOW, IN YOUR BUDGET GIVING, GIVING SOME HELP TO THE OUR COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR MR. RUBEN GONZALEZ, TO HIRE ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEES TO HELP COME AND SUPPORT THIS WEB DEALER DEPARTMENT. LIKE I SAID, BECAUSE IT'S IT'S JUST CONTINUE TO GROW. THIS PAST SATURDAY, HE HAD HIS EMPLOYEES COME IN. THEY AND THERE WERE NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. THEY ALL THEY CONCENTRATED WAS ON WEB DEALER TRANSACTIONS WHICH IS THE DEALER COMMUNITY. THEY PROCESSED OVER 1700 TRANSACTIONS JUST ON SATURDAY. SO IF WE HAVE THAT ADDITIONAL HELP FOR THAT DEPARTMENT, IT'S GOING TO IT MAY NOT SOLVE THE ISSUE COMPLETELY, BUT IT'S GOING TO HELP. LIKE I WAS MENTIONING TO THE JUDGE, TAKE A CHIP OFF THE ROCK. AND IT'S REALLY A MATTER OF CONCERN BECAUSE THIS GENTLEMAN IS THE ONE THAT BRINGS IN THE, THE FUNDS TO THE, TO THE COUNTY OF EL PASO. AND NOW EVERYTHING'S IN A BOTTLENECK. YOU KNOW, THOSE FUNDS ARE NOT COMING IN BECAUSE EITHER THEY START GETTING KICKED BACK AND INSTEAD OF ALLEVIATING THAT BOTTLENECK, IT'S JUST IT'S A CYCLE THAT KEEPS GOING BACK TO THE TO THE SAME LOOP. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS. AND I REALLY WANT TO CONSIDER THAT SUPPORT FOR HIM. WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MR. STARK. I JUST WANT TO MAKE A QUICK COMMENT. I WAS ABLE TO MEET WITH THEM LAST WEEK AND GIVEN THE SITUATION, YOU SHOULD SEE THE LEVEL OF PROFESSIONALISM AND THE OPENNESS OF WHAT THEY NEEDED TO DO TO MAKE SURE WE DO THINGS BETTER. WE MET WITH MR. GONZALEZ AND SOME OF HIS STAFF, BUT IT WAS JUST AMAZING. LIKE I SAID, JUST AS YOU SAW MR. STARK, RIGHT NOW, THIS LEVEL OF PROFESSIONALISM, THIS LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING, LIKE WHAT IS IT THAT WE COULD DO? AND THIS IS THIS IS A GREAT THING FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THEY COULD BE UPSET AND, AND, YOU KNOW, PROTEST AND DO ALL THESE OTHER THINGS THAT, THAT GET US NOWHERE. BUT THEIR OPENNESS TO HELP OUT, TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY COULD DO, NOT JUST WHAT WE COULD DO, WAS EXTREMELY, VERY IMPRESSIVE. SO I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU THAT WERE THERE AND TODAY FOR FOR THAT LEVEL OF PROFESSIONALISM. SO, CESAR, WE HAVE MORE. YES.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER, WE HAVE MR. RUBEN GONZALEZ. MR. GONZALEZ, THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. JUDGE.

JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS RUBEN GONZALEZ AND I SERVE AS COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR. I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND YOU, REMIND THE COURT THAT UNDER THE TRANSPORTATION CODE 520 OH FIVE, I AM REQUIRED BY LAW TO COMPLY WITH THE CERTIFICATE OF TITLE ACT THAT WAS AMENDED WITH THE PASSAGE OF HOUSE BILL 718 DURING THE LAST SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE. IF I FAIL OR REFUSE TO COMPLY WITH THE TITLE ACT, I AM LIABLE ON MY OFFICIAL BOND FOR ANY DAMAGES SUFFERED BY ANY PERSON. I WOULD LIKE THE COURT TO KNOW THAT I AM FAILING TO MEET MY RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER HOUSE BILL 718, DUE TO STAFFING SHORTAGES. I NEED FULL TIME EMPLOYEES. LAST YEAR I SPOKE TO EACH COMMISSIONER AND YOU, JUDGE, REGARDING MY NEED TO COMPLY WITH 718. IF MY REQUEST WAS HONORED LAST YEAR FOR FULL TIME EMPLOYEES, I WOULD NOT BE IN THIS PREDICAMENT. EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST OF 2025. HOUSE BILL 718 IS OFFICIALLY IN PLACE. I CANNOT REVIEW ELECTRONIC TITLE TRANSFERS AS REQUIRED BY LAW UNDER TRANSPORTATION CODE 520. 10055. CONSEQUENTLY, OUR DEALER COMMUNITY IS HURTING TO THE POINT OF THEM LOSING THEIR BUSINESSES AND LIVELIHOOD. THIS IS NOT GOOD FOR SMALL BUSINESS

[01:05:05]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MR. GONZALEZ. OUR LAST SPEAKER WE HAVE IS COMMISSIONER DAVID STOUT. IS IT BASED ON THIS? NO, NO, LET ME JUST SORT OF COMPLETE THE MOST OF THE TIME WE'RE ABLE TO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS TIED TO THE TOPIC, BUT SINCE IN THIS CASE WE HAVE IT IN EXECUTIVE, WE WEREN'T ABLE TO DO THAT. BUT IF WE GO INTO THE OPEN OR WE HAVE A DIFFERENT WAY OF ADDRESSING IT, YOU'RE VERY WELCOME TO DO SO. WE'RE TRYING VERY HARD, OBVIOUSLY, TO TO LISTEN TO EVERYBODY TRY TO DO THE BEST THING THAT WE CAN. YOU KNOW, IT'S A BALANCE OF WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN AT THE DEALERSHIPS AND WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN WITH US. WE'VE LOOKED AT OTHER COUNTIES TO SEE WHAT THEY'RE DOING. SOME OTHER COUNTIES HAVE NOT HAD THE SAME CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE HAVING HERE. SO WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S HAPPENING HERE AND NOT AT OTHER COUNTIES. SO AND I APOLOGIZE. TYPICALLY WE'RE NOT ABLE TO INTERACT WITH THE COMMENTS. BUT I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THINGS. SO THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER STOUT. THANK YOU.

IS ON THIS IS ON A COMPLETELY A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT TOPIC. BUT I DID WANT TO READ A STATEMENT THAT I, THAT MY OFFICE PUT OUT AFTER THE. THE SHOOTING OF CHARLIE KIRK AND AFTER HIS DEATH. SO THE STATEMENT SAYS, LIKE, LIKE MANY OF YOU, I'VE BEEN REFLECTING ON CHARLIE KIRK'S DEATH AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR OUR COUNTRY AND FOR OUR PATH FORWARD. I WANT TO BEGIN BY EXPRESSING MY DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO HIS FAMILY AND LOVED ONES. NO ONE, REGARDLESS OF THEIR VIEWS OR POLITICAL STANCE, SHOULD EVER MEET SUCH AN END, AND NO YOUNG PERSON SHOULD HAVE TO WITNESS SUCH VIOLENCE. POLITICAL VIOLENCE HAS NO PLACE IN A DEMOCRACY, AND I UNEQUIVOCALLY CONDEMN IT. AT THE SAME TIME, UPHOLDING THAT PRINCIPLE MEANS CALLING OUT ALL FORMS OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE, INCLUDING THE DIVISIVE AND HOSTILE RHETORIC THAT CHARLIE KIRK PROMOTED AND PROFITED FROM. BECAUSE VIOLENCE BEGETS VIOLENCE. WHEN WE ALLOW OUR PUBLIC DISCOURSE TO BE POISONED BY HATEFUL RHETORIC, DEHUMANIZATION AND FEAR, WE CREATE THE VERY CONDITIONS IN WHICH ACTS LIKE THIS BECOME POSSIBLE. IN THIS COUNTRY, POLARIZATION HAS BECOME OUR GREATEST ENEMY, FUELED LARGELY BY RIGHT WING BILLIONAIRES WHO CONTROL OUR MEDIA AND SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, SPREADING DISINFORMATION FOR PROFIT, AND DEEPENING DIVISIONS AMONGST US. WE ARE ALSO SEEING THE RISE OF FASCISM AND CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM, MOVEMENTS THAT THRIVE ON FEAR, EXCLUSION AND HOSTILITY. WE CANNOT OVERLOOK THE ROLE CHARLIE KIRK PLAYED IN DEEPENING THE POLARIZATION AND HOSTILITY THAT ENDANGER ALL OF US. THE STRUGGLE IN THIS COUNTRY IS NOT ONLY ABOUT RIGHT VERSUS LEFT, IT IS ABOUT THE WORKING CLASS VERSUS THE WEALTHY AND THE POWERFUL. THE RIGHT HAS INVESTED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN SHAPING YOUNG MINDS WITH A WORLDVIEW THAT PROTECTS WEALTH AND POWER, RATHER THAN CHALLENGING IT. MR. KIRK'S RHETORIC CONSISTENTLY TARGETED AND VILIFIED IMMIGRANTS, WOMEN, BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES, AND LGBTQ, PLUS PEOPLE, AND ON ISSUES LIKE THE BORDER, HE PROMOTED FEAR AND HOSTILITY INSTEAD OF COMPASSION AND SOLUTIONS. THIS KIND OF RHETORIC HAS REAL CONSEQUENCES, FUELING VIOLENCE, JUSTIFYING DISCRIMINATION AND MAKING OUR NATION LESS SAFE. HIS ESTIMATED $12 MILLION NET WORTH WAS A PRODUCT OF WHITE SUPREMACIST SYSTEMS THAT REWARD PEOPLE LIKE HIM FOR AMPLIFYING DIVISION, EVEN AS IT HARMED COUNTLESS MARGINALIZED WORKING CLASS COMMUNITIES. VIOLENT RHETORIC ITSELF PULLS TRIGGERS THE

[01:10:07]

[A. Receive a presentation recognizing El Paso County as recipient of six (6) 2025 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo) and Best in Category for El Paso County Healing Garden. Betsy C. Keller, Chief Administrator, County Administration, 915-273-3600]

THESE RECOGNITIONS REFLECTS THE COUNTY'S ONGOING EFFORTS TO LEAD WITH INNOVATION, COMPASSION AND IMPACT. AS YOU CAN SEE TO MY RIGHT, THESE ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS ARE PROUDLY DISPLAYED IN OUR COURTROOM. AS IN TRADITION, NACO RECOGNIZES 18 OUTSTANDING PROGRAMS EACH YEAR WITH THE PRESTIGIOUS BEST IN CATEGORY AWARD PRESENTED DURING A SPECIAL EVENT AT THE NACO ANNUAL CONFERENCE. THIS YEAR'S CELEBRATION TOOK PLACE ON JULY 13TH IN PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, WHERE NACO HONORED COUNTIES LEADING THE WAY IN INNOVATION AND SERVICE.

IN ADDITION TO RECEIVING THE 2025 NACO ACHIEVEMENT AWARD, EL PASO COUNTY'S HEALING GARDEN WAS SELECTED AS THE BEST IN CATEGORY IN THE ARTS, CULTURE AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION CATEGORY. AN INCREDIBLE HONOR. I'M PROUD TO INFORM THE COURT THAT EL PASO COUNTY STOOD OUT

[01:15:05]

APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, COMMISSIONERS COURT EIGHT A RECEIVE A PRESENTATION TO DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE ADOPTION OF A COUNTY FIRE CODE. FURTHER, RECEIVE A PRESENTATION, DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE ADOPTION OF AN OUTDOOR BUSINESS ORDER FOR EL PASO COUNTY, PENDING A PUBLIC

[A. Receive a presentation, discuss, and take appropriate action regarding the adoption of a County Fire Code. Further receive a presentation, discuss, and take appropriate action regarding the adoption of an Outdoor Business Order for El Paso County, pending a public hearing pursuant to Texas Transportation Code § 396.043. Jackie Butler, Commissioner, Precinct 1, 915-273-3594]

COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR FOR ALLOWING ME TO POST THIS ITEM ON OUR AGENDA THIS MORNING. WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR THIS MORNING IS THE RESULT OF NEARLY TWO YEARS OF RESEARCH OF OF POLICY ANALYSIS, OF BEST PRACTICES, ANALYSIS OF OUTREACH TO OTHER COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE. IT WAS JUST ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO EXACTLY THAT. WE HAD THAT LARGE RECYCLING PLANT FIRE IN MONTANA VISTA. AND YOU REMEMBER THE THE OUTPOURING OF OUTREACH FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS AT THAT TIME? I'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH THAT GROUP OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, DURING MY TIME AS AS A POLICY ADVISOR TO COMMISSIONER LEON, DOING DOING RESEARCH ON STATE CODE AND WORKING WITH OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO TO HOPEFULLY PREVENT THESE TYPES OF FIRES IN THE FUTURE. EVERY DAY SINCE THAT FIRE HAPPENED, I WAKE UP HOPING THAT ANOTHER FIRE DOESN'T OCCUR IN OUR COMMUNITY

[01:20:04]

BUT JUST TO ELABORATE AGAIN, HERE'S A MAP AS WELL OF THE LOCATIONS OF THE FIRES. THERE HAVE BEEN 14. FIVE OF SUCH HAVE BEEN SQUARELY WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE COUNTY. THE MOST RECENT, AGAIN, WAS IN PRECINCT FOUR, ACROSS THE STREET FROM AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. PRECINCT ONE HAS BEEN FOCUSED FOR YEARS, AS THE COMMISSIONER MENTIONED, ON ELIMINATING THE THREAT OF OUTDOOR FIRES AND THE IMPACT IT HAS ON OUR COMMUNITIES. JUST SOME BACKGROUND. I KNOW YOU ALL ARE AWARE OF THIS. THE COURT DOES HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH AND ENFORCE A FIRE CODE. WE HAVE NOT YET ADOPTED OR ENFORCED A UNIFIED FIRE CODE.

BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT ADOPTED SUCH. CURRENTLY, THE COMMISSIONERS COURT DELEGATES GOVERNMENT GOVERNANCE TO EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICTS TO ADMINISTER AND ENFORCE THEIR OWN ADOPTED FIRE CODES. YOU'LL SEE ON YOUR SCREEN A MAP OF ESD JURISDICTION AND ESD TWO COVERS BROADLY THE REST OF THE COUNTY, INCLUDING ANTHONY CANUTILLO, CLINT, FABENS, SAN LAZARO, SOCORRO, TORNILLO, AND VINTON. SO WITH THAT MAP, THIS IS THE CURRENT LANDSCAPE OF FIRE CODES THROUGHOUT EL PASO COUNTY. SO THE CITY CURRENTLY ENFORCES 2021 INTERNATIONAL FIRE CODE OF 2021 WITH AMENDMENTS. ESD ALSO ENFORCES IFC CODE 2021 WITH NO AMENDMENTS. ESD TWO ENFORCES IFC CODE 2015, AND THEN MUNICIPALITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY ENFORCE 2021 AND SOME WITH 2009. SO THAT'S THE CURRENT KIND OF LANDSCAPE YOU'RE LOOKING AT, EITHER AS A RESIDENT CALLING TO SEE WHAT CODES ARE ENFORCEABLE, OR IF YOU'RE A BUSINESS HOPING TO SET UP OPERATIONS BASIS FOR INTERVENTION. AS THE COMMISSIONER MENTIONED IN DISCUSSIONS WITH ESD'S, WE'VE BEEN WE'VE BEEN INFORMED THAT THEY ARE BEING DEPRIVED OF NECESSARY TOOLS TO ENFORCE CODES. SO THAT INCLUDES LIMITATIONS ON CITATIONS AND WARNINGS. SO THERE'S NOT REALLY A UNIFORM PROCESS THAT THEY CAN UTILIZE COUNTY RESOURCES TO PURSUE PENALTIES, ANY PENALTIES THAT THEY PURSUE ARE WITH THE RESOURCES OF THE ESD THEMSELVES.

AND ANY SUCH MONETARY PENALTIES ARE PRETTY LIMITED. SO IT'S LIKE FOR IF YOU'VE VIOLATED, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR 60 DAYS, THE TOTAL FEE COULD BE $200 FOR THE ENTIRE 60 DAYS. THEY ALSO HAVE A NARROW SCOPE ON ESTABLISHING OUTDOOR BUSINESSES, SUCH AS RECYCLING PLANT, RECYCLING CENTERS AND SCRAP YARDS. THE SOLUTION? THE COURT WILL BE CONSIDERING A TWO FOLD SOLUTION.

THE FIRST PART OF THAT IS A COUNTY FIRE CODE, WHICH AGAIN, AS THE COMMISSIONER MENTIONED,

[01:25:01]

ALL MONETARY PENALTIES COLLECTED WILL BE STORED IN A FUND TO EXCLUSIVELY ENFORCE THE FIRE CODE. I BELIEVE SOME IMPORTANT CONTEXT HERE AS WELL IS THAT OF THE TOP 14 MOST POPULATED COUNTIES IN TEXAS, EL PASO COUNTY IS THE ONLY ONE WITHOUT A UNIFIED FIRE CODE. AT THIS POINT, WE RECOMMEND THE COURT CONSIDER ADOPTING NOT TODAY, BUT IN FUTURE WEEKS. THE INTERNATIONAL FIRE CODE OF 2021 WITH NO AMENDMENTS. THE SAME IS CURRENTLY USED BY MULTIPLE JURISDICTIONS WITHIN THE COUNTY. AND WE RECOMMEND NO AMENDMENTS AT THIS TIME. BUT SHOULD THE COURT WISH TO ADOPT ANY AMENDMENTS TO ADAPT TO THE LANDSCAPE? OF COURSE, THAT WOULD BE THE THE COURT'S PURVIEW. THE SECOND PART OF THE SOLUTION WOULD BE THE OUTDOOR BUSINESS ORDINANCE. SO THIS WOULD PROVIDE THE COUNTY WITH VERY CLEAR AUTHORITY AND OVERSIGHT OF FACILITIES TO ENSURE THE MAINTENANCE OF SAFETY AND PRESENTATION STANDARDS. A LOT OF COUNTIES WITHIN TEXAS HAVE OUTDOOR BUSINESS ORDINANCES, AND ALL OF THOSE THAT DO HAVE OUTDOOR BUSINESS ORDINANCES ALSO HAVE A FIRE CODE. SO THEY KIND OF WORK HAND IN HAND IN MOST COUNTIES. SO THIS IS THE SUMMARY OF THE OUTDOOR BUSINESS ORDER. SO FIRSTLY WHAT WHAT BUSINESSES WOULD IT APPLY TO. JUNKYARDS, AUTOMOBILE WRECKAGE SALVAGE YARDS, IMPOUND SALVAGE DEMOLITION BUSINESSES ETC. RECYCLING PLANTS. OF COURSE, IT WOULD REQUIRE THESE BUSINESSES TO PROCURE A LICENSE THROUGH OUR PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. IT WOULD ALSO ALLOW EXISTING BUSINESSES UP TO A YEAR TO COME INTO COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE ORDER. OPERATION STANDARDS INCLUDE DISPOSAL OF FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS, FENCING REQUIREMENTS, HOW CLOSELY OR FAR APART STACKS OF SALVAGE HAVE TO BE, AS WELL AS HOW HIGH THEY CAN BE AND HOW CLOSE TO THE FENCE. IT ALSO DETERMINES THE MAKEUP OF THE FENCE, HOW HIGH THE FENCE HAS TO BE FOR THE VIEWING OF THE COMMUNITY AND PRESENTATION TO THE COMMUNITY. VIOLATIONS OF THIS ORDER ARE A MISDEMEANOR, PUNISHABLE BY A FINE OF NOT LESS THAN $100 AND NO MORE THAN $500. AGAIN, FOR EACH DAY THAT THE VIOLATION CONTINUES, IT IS A SEPARATE OFFENSE. SO A QUICK SUMMARY WOULD BE OUR CURRENT STATUS. AS WE DO NOT HAVE A UNIFORM FIRE CODE. WE HAVE POCKETS THAT OPERATE IN 20 2015 CODE 2021 CODE WITH AMENDMENTS, AS WELL AS SOME WITH 2009 A UNIFIED FIRE CODE. SHOULD THE COURT WISH TO ADOPT IN COMING WEEKS, WOULD AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO ENFORCE A UNIFIED FIRE CODE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. IT WOULD OFFER CLARITY TO RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES REGARDING FIRE CODE EXPECTATIONS, LICENSURE, AND ENFORCEMENT. SO NEXT STEPS THE COURT WILL CONSIDER FORMAL ADOPTION OF BOTH OF THESE ON OCTOBER 20TH, ALLOWING FOR MORE THAN THREE WEEKS OF THE REQUIRED PUNISHMENT. SHOULD THE COURT WISH TO ADOPT THESE, A PHASED IMPLEMENTATION MAY BE CONSIDERED, AND AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS. I THINK THERE'S BEEN SOME CONCERNS THAT ADOPTION OF THIS FIRE CODE AND OR THE ORDER COULD RESULT IN ISDS BEING THEIR JURISDICTION BEING REMOVED IN THE COUNTY. WE HAVE EXAMPLES OF COUNTIES IN TEXAS WHERE ISDS ARE OPERATING AND ENFORCING FIRE CODES UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF A FIRE MARSHAL WORKING IN COOPERATION WITH THEIR DEPARTMENT. SO THAT IS A LATER DATE CONSIDERATION. BUT I JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS THAT AS WELL. AND THEN QUESTIONS, WHICH I'M SURE HOPEFULLY THERE ARE SOME. THANK YOU. CHANDLER YES, COMMISSIONER OLGUIN THANK YOU. CHANDLER I JUST HAD A QUESTION. WE KNOW THAT THERE'S DIFFERENT FIRE CODES THAT ARE BEING THAT HAVE BEEN ADOPTED BY DIFFERENT ENTITIES, SOME WITH AMENDMENTS AND SOME WITHOUT AMENDMENTS. CAN YOU GIVE US EXAMPLES OF WHAT THOSE AMENDMENTS ARE, WHAT THOSE DIFFERENCES ARE EVEN BETWEEN THE ENTITIES THAT HAVE ADOPTED THE SAME FIRE CODE? I THINK THERE WAS THE CITY OF EL PASO AND PERHAPS ESD NUMBER ONE THAT HAD ADOPTED THE 2021. I THINK I SAW, YES, BUT ONE WITH AMENDMENTS AND ONE WITH NO AMENDMENTS. SO LIKE WHAT? WHAT IS THE CAN YOU TELL US WHAT THOSE DIFFERENCES ARE? YES, MA'AM. SO I DON'T KNOW THE ENTIRETY OF ALL THE AMENDMENTS ADOPTED BY THE CITY OF EL PASO, BUT FROM WHAT I'VE UNDERSTOOD IN MY RESEARCH, MOST AMENDMENTS ARE EXCEPTIONS. SO IF YOU HAVE A TYPE OF BUSINESS THAT IS NOT ABLE TO COMPLY WITH THE SECTION OF CODE, YOU MAKE YOUR CASE TO THE FIRE MARSHAL, AND THE FIRE MARSHAL CAN ADOPT AN AMENDMENT, AND IT'S USUALLY AN EXCEPTION. IT'S NOT LIKE AN ABOVE THE

[01:30:01]

BUT WE HAVE SEEN OTHER MODELS LIKE CHANDLER MENTIONED WHERE THE ISDS ENFORCE A COUNTY FIRE CODE UNDER THEIR JURISDICTIONS AND AND MAINTAIN THEIR FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE UNDER THE THEIR ISDS. SO AGAIN, I THINK WE HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH EITHER SOLUTION. I, I THINK WHEN WE WERE LOOKING THROUGH THIS AND LOOKING AT BEST PRACTICES, WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT OVER TIME WE COULD MAYBE DO A PHASED IMPLEMENTATION TO TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL AND BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THAT FIRE CODE COUNTY WIDE. OBVIOUSLY COOPERATING WITH THE ISDS, BUT HAVING THAT FUNCTION UNDER THE COUNTY, BUT, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME TO TO BE ABLE TO RESOURCE AND BUILD UP. OKAY. BUT BUT THERE'S ALSO THE OPTION OF ALLOWING THE FIRE MARSHAL TO STAY UNDER THE ISDS, BUT STILL BE ABLE TO ADOPT A COUNTY WIDE FIRE CODE. THAT'S ALSO AN OPTION. YES. OKAY. YEAH.

AND I BELIEVE TARRANT COUNTY DOES THAT RIGHT NOW. I'M AWARE OF CAMERON COUNTY, CAMERON COUNTY I'M SORRY CAMERON COUNTY DOES. AND THEN HARRIS COUNTY ALSO HAS, I BELIEVE, SIX ISDS THAT ENFORCE THE FIRE CODE WITHIN THEIR JURISDICTION AS WELL. 16 EXCUSE ME. 16 SO YEAH, HARRIS COUNTY HAS ITS OWN FIRE. MARSHAL CAMERON COUNTY ALSO HAS ITS OWN FIRE, HAS ITS OWN FIRE MARSHAL. BUT THE ISDS ARE STILL ABLE TO HAVE THAT FUNCTION. OKAY. WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS. NO, WE DO NOT HAVE ANYBODY FOR PUBLIC. I DIDN'T KNOW THE CHIEF HAD ANY COMMENTS ON THIS. SO. CHIEF ESPARZA. GOOD MORNING. COMMISSIONERS. CHIEF ESPARZA, FIRE MARSHAL NUMBER TWO, I THINK WE'RE JUST HERE TO LISTEN TO WHAT THE THE OUTCOME WAS GOING TO BE, BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE'RE WE'RE VERY EAGER TO SEE HOW WE'RE GOING TO WORK TOGETHER AND KIND OF WORK THIS OUT. AND WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO TO DO OUR BEST.

BUT I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IS, YOU KNOW, THE SEVERAL FIRES WERE MENTIONED, BUT I THINK OUR BIGGEST THING IS THE HYDRANT ISSUE THAT WE HAVE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. AND THAT'S OUR BIGGEST, OUR BIGGEST ENEMY RIGHT THERE. I MEAN, WE COVER SO MANY DIFFERENT MUDS THAT IT'S IT'S HARD TO KEEP UP WITH THEM. SO THOSE THOSE ARE OUR CONCERNS FOR RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU. CHIEF. YOU DON'T SEE ANY OTHER CONCERNS AS FAR AS YOUR FUNCTIONINGS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO. YOU KNOW, IF LIKE I SAID, I'M GOING TO LOOK INTO CAMERON COUNTY. I JUST LOOKED THEM UP BRIEFLY. BUT THERE'S WAYS TO DO IT. YOU KNOW, INTERLOCAL AGREEMENTS, MOU AND THINGS LIKE THAT. WHAT WE INITIALLY WERE LOOKING FOR IS WE HAVE THE ONE OF THE MOST STRICTEST FIRE CODES IN THE AREA, RIGHT. EVEN THOUGH IT'S 15 AND THE 21, THEY'RE PRETTY MUCH EXACTLY THE SAME WITH LITTLE MINOR ADDITIONS TO IT. WE ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE THAT FOR EVERY TIME THEY MAKE AN ADDITION, SOMEBODY IS PAID WITH THEIR LIFE, RIGHT. SO THAT'S WHY WE WERE TRYING TO TO WORK TOGETHER. NOW 2024 IS OUT. SO WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT ONE AS WELL. SEE HOW THAT FIRE CODE LOOKS. BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AS FIRE MARSHALS AS HOW IS THAT

[01:35:02]

I THINK CHANDLER MENTIONED MOU INTERLOCAL. JUST WE NEED TO SIT DOWN TO DISCUSS IT FURTHER. I THINK I ATTENDED ONE MEETING OFFICIALLY AND TO DISCUSS IT. I KNOW THERE'S MANY MORE THAT NEED TO BE HAD IN ORDER TO HAVE AND BE ABLE TO ADOPT THIS CORRECTLY, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T IMPACT THE CONSTITUENTS, BECAUSE THE POTENTIAL OF GETTING, I'M GOING TO SAY, TAXED TWICE TO WHERE IF THE FIRE CODE ADOPTS A CODE AND WE HAVE A FIRE CODE NOW, THEY GOT TO PAY PERMITS TO BOTH ENTITIES. SO WE GOT TO BE VERY CAREFUL ON HOW WE DO THIS. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE COMMON GOAL IS PUBLIC SAFETY AND PUBLIC SERVICE. AND SO AS LONG AS WE HAVE THAT IN MIND, I THINK WE CAN ACCOMPLISH THE SAME, THE SAME OBJECTIVE. AND SO JUST ASK THAT WE SIT DOWN SOME MORE AND DISCUSS IT BETWEEN LEGALS AND US, AND WE COME UP WITH A COMMON GROUND. WE TALK ABOUT THE STATUTE. WE ADOPTED IFC 2021 BECAUSE THE CITY OF EL PASO WAS ON IT. OURS HAS NO AMENDMENTS, AS THE CITY OF EL PASO DOES, BUT I THINK IT COULD BE VERY EASY TO BRING EVERYBODY ELSE UP TO PAR. AND TALKING TO MEMBERS FROM EL PASO FIRE, I KNOW THERE IS NO TALKS AS OF RIGHT NOW TO GO TO 2024, SO STAYING ON 2021 WOULD BE IDEAL FOR NOW. AGAIN, BECAUSE EVERY TIME YOU INCREASE OR CHANGE CODE, THERE'S THERE'S MORE STATUTES THAT COME INTO PLAY, THERE'S MORE LAWS THAT COME INTO PLAY. AND AS BUSINESSES CHANGE OR AS THEY BECOME NEW OWNERS COME INTO PLAY, YOU'VE GOT TO COME UP TO THAT CODE.

AND SO THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING WE NEED TO ALSO BE VERY CAREFUL WITH. AND SO AGAIN, LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE AND TAKING TIME TO BE WITH US. BETSY. WE'RE SORT OF LOOKING AT I MEAN, JUST WHAT THE CHIEF SAID ABOUT THERE'S STILL MORE COMMUNICATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS TO BE HELD. IS THAT THE POINT HERE TO CONTINUE THAT OR ARE WE TAKING ACTION AT THIS TIME? I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THERE'S ACTION BEING ASKED FOR AT THIS TIME. I BELIEVE WHAT I UNDERSTOOD FROM THE PRESENTATION THAT WE WOULD BE GIVING PUBLIC NOTICE OF ACTION TO BE TAKEN, AND YOU ALL WOULD THEN BE CONSIDERING THIS IN OCTOBER FOR ACTUAL ADOPTION, SO THAT THAT WOULD THAT WOULD ALLOW SOME TIME FOR ADDITIONAL MEETINGS. IF THE COURT IS DOES NOT FEEL LIKE IT'S READY TO CONSIDER ADOPTION IN THREE WEEKS, I WOULD ASK THAT WE HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL INTERNAL MEETINGS ABOUT ANY WHAT THOSE CONCERNS ARE, SO THAT WE CAN BRING IT BACK AT A AT A LATER DATE FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. AND IN THE MEANWHILE, ALSO BECAUSE I KNOW COMMISSIONER BUTLER MENTIONED THE OUR ABILITY TO I MEAN, IT'S EASY TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO DO X, BUT THEN HOW MUCH IS THAT GOING TO COST. AND THEN IS OUR BUDGET PREPARED FOR THAT. AND WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO HAVE ALSO BRING THAT IN AS PART OF THE DISCUSSION AS TO WHAT THE IMPACT THE FINANCIAL IMPACT IS GOING TO BE ON OUR BUDGET? WE COULD DEFINITELY WORK ON THAT.

COMMISSIONER BUTLER HAS REACHED OUT, AND WE HAVE LOOKED AT LIKE WHAT THOSE TYPES OF POSITIONS COST. WE ALSO WOULD NEED TO LOOK AT THE. WE ALSO HAVE AN IDEA OF HOW MUCH REVENUE THOSE BUSINESS PERMITS BRING IN TO OFFSET THE. BUT THAT WOULD BE THERE WOULD BE IMPACTS. SO IF WE IF THE REVENUE STARTED, IF WE TRANSFER THIS TO THE COUNTY, THE REVENUE WOULD THEN DECREASE THE BUDGETS OF THE ESD'S. BUT IT WOULD ALSO DECREASE THE EXPENSES OF THE ESD'S, BECAUSE THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES WOULD TRANSFER TO US IF THE COURT DECIDED TO MOVE THOSE TO US AND NOT LEAVE THEM UNDER THE ESD AS WAS DESCRIBED, YOU COULD ADOPT THE CODE AND LEAVE EVERYTHING UNDER THE ESD'S AS IS AND THEN TRANSITION THOSE IN OVER TIME. OKAY. IF YOU WANTED TO. ERICA, DO YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR ALSO JUST MENTION REALLY QUICKLY IF THE COURT DOES CONSIDER ON THE 20TH, YOU CAN ALSO HAVE AN ADOPTION AND THEN AN IMPLEMENTATION AT A LATER DATE. SO I KNOW HARRIS COUNTY ADOPTED SOMETIME IN THE YEAR, AND IT WASN'T EFFECTIVE UNTIL JANUARY 1ST OF THE FOLLOWING YEAR. SO IF THAT WOULD BE THE WILL OF THE COURT, THAT'S ALSO AN OPTION. ERIC. YES, COMMISSIONERS. ERIC GAGLIONE, ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY. SO FOR THE ADOPTION OF A FIRE CODE, THE ONLY NOTICE THAT THE COURT NEEDS TO GIVE THE PUBLIC FOR THAT, IF THE COURT WANTS TO CONSIDER IT IN THE FUTURE, WOULD JUST BE YOUR REGULAR OPEN MEETINGS ACT NOTICE. SO WE COULD PUT IT ON AN AGENDA. AND THE COURT, THE PUBLIC IS NOTIFIED THAT THAT WILL BE DISCUSSED AND POTENTIALLY ADOPTED. HOWEVER,

[01:40:03]

SO I KNOW WE MENTIONED SOME OF THE BUDGETARY IMPACTS DECIDING BETWEEN THE TWO. RIGHT.

BRINGING THE FIRE MARSHAL UNDER THE COUNTY OR LEAVING THE FIRE MARSHALS AT THE ISDS. BUT I'M WONDERING IF WE COULD REALLY GET A MORE THOROUGH LOOK AT WHAT THE PROS AND CONS OF EACH STRUCTURE ARE. SO NOT JUST BUDGETARY, BUT ANY OTHER PROS AND CONS THAT WE MAY SEE JUST JUST WHAT THE DIFFERENCES REALISTICALLY OF THE TWO STRUCTURES ARE LIKE. IF WE COULD GET AN ANALYSIS OF THAT, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. IN ADDITION TO THE BUDGETARY ISSUES. COMMISSIONER BUTLER YES, AND THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. AND LIKE CHANDLER MENTIONED IN HER PRESENTATION IN OUR RESEARCH OF EVERY COUNTY THAT HAS ADOPTED AN OUTDOOR BUSINESS ORDER, THEY DO HAVE A UNIFIED FIRE CODE BECAUSE THAT BRINGS UNIFICATION AND IT GIVES OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE SOME TEETH, WHICH REALLY WILL HELP US TO ENFORCE BOTH THROUGH THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE COULD HAVE RESPONDED

[01:45:05]

AND WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BUTLER, SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. I THANK YOU, JUDGE. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. ITEM. I'M SORRY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ITEM NINE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION NINE A. RECEIVE A PRESENTATION. DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE 89TH TEXAS LEGISLATIVE SECOND CALL SPECIAL

[A. Receive a presentation, discuss and take appropriate action regarding the 89th Texas Legislative 2nd Called Special Session and the 119th U.S. Congress, if needed. Melissa Carrillo, Deputy County Administrator, County Operations, 915-273-3582]

I THINK WE WE WANT TO CALL THIS MAINLY SILENCING OF LOCAL TAXPAYER VOICES INSTEAD OF TAXPAYER FUNDED LOBBYING, BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE EFFECTIVELY TIED OUR HANDS AND NOT ALLOW US TO HIRE PROFESSIONALS WHO LIVE HERE IN AUSTIN AND UNDERSTAND THE INTRICACIES OF OUR LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, WHICH, AS YOU KNOW, IS INCREDIBLY COMPLICATED AND OVERWHELMING. SO I JUST WANT TO REPEAT THIS MOSTLY FOR THE PUBLIC TO REMEMBER THAT, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE PASSAGE OF HOUSE BILL 2127, WHICH WAS ALSO KNOWN AS THE DEATH STAR BILL OR THE PREEMPTION BILL, LAST SESSION IN THE 87TH, WHICH LIMITS OUR ABILITY TO PASS

[01:50:04]

COMMISSIONER CORONADO, IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO GIVE YOU ALL THAT OVERVIEW AND ALSO TO HIGHLIGHT, PERHAPS WHERE THERE MAY BE, IF THE COURT SO IS INTERESTED, AN OPPORTUNITY TO EITHER ENGAGE OR FILE AN AMICUS BRIEF, OR TO LAY OUT SPECIFICALLY ANY OTHER TYPES OF ARGUMENTS THAT WE BELIEVE WOULD PERTAIN TO EL PASO COUNTY. SO WE COULD DO THAT. WOULD YOU ALL LIKE US TO PREPARE SOMETHING? I MEAN, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S IMMEDIATE, BUT I THINK WE MIGHT WANT TO GET AN UPDATE ON THAT LITIGATION THAT'S GOING ON. RIGHT. AND SOME OF THE TRENDS, LIKE I SAID, IT'S VERY UNIQUE HOW THE STATE OF TEXAS IS PURSUING AND ALLOWING THIS IDEA OF PRIVATE CITIZENS TO ENGAGE IN LITIGATION. IT'S THIS NEW AREA OF THE LAW, AND WE'D BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE THAT OVERVIEW AND, AND WHATEVER WE COULD OFFER TO THE COURT FOR

[01:55:01]

THIS WOULD HAVE PROVIDED TRAINING, REGULATION, IMPROVED PREPAREDNESS AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO DISASTERS. AND UNFORTUNATELY IT DIDN'T PASS. ALSO, HOUSE BILL THREE THAT WE HAD SUPPORTED DURING THE REGULAR SESSION AND ALSO DURING THE SPECIAL SESSION ESTABLISHING A TEXAS INTER ABILITY COUNCIL TO PROVIDE GRANT PROGRAMS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY IN RADIO COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, AGAIN IN RESPONSE TO DISASTERS AND JUST TO BE MORE PREPARED AND ALSO FAIL TO PASS THEN SENATE BILL SIX. THIS WAS A COMPLETE THC BAN IN TEXAS, AS THE SENATE WANTED TO PASS THIS AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, PATRICK HAD PRIORITIZED THE TEXAS HOUSE WANTED MORE COMMON SENSE. SO THE HOUSE AND SENATE COULDN'T AGREE ON THIS REGULATION. AND SO THAT IS WHY THE GOVERNOR ACTED ON EXECUTIVE ORDER, WHICH HAS ALSO BEEN CHALLENGED. SO WE I'M NOT SURE TO WHAT EXTENT THAT IS GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTED, BUT WE WILL KEEP TRACK. THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE HAVE ANOTHER SLIDE OF BILLS THAT FAILED. I MENTIONED EARLIER, SENATE BILL TEN, BUT ALSO HOUSE BILL 46, HOUSE BILL 49 AND HOUSE BILL 73.

ALL ALONG THE SAME LINES OF REVENUE FOR LOCALITIES AND COUNTIES, AND CAPPING OUR ABILITY FOR THE TAX RATE. THEN SENATE BILL 13 THAT I ALSO MENTIONED THE TAXPAYER FUNDED LOBBYING SLASH SILENCING OF MUNICIPALITIES ALSO FAILED TO PASS SENATE BILL 15. AND THIS WAS A PROPOSAL THAT WOULD HAVE PROTECTED THE RELEASE OF CERTAIN FILES. I ALSO MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING. SO A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE SURPRISED ABOUT THIS ONE. AND THEN LASTLY, HOUSE BILL 22, IT WAS ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE FUND FOR EARLY WARNING AND EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION SYSTEMS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. ANOTHER THING THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN HELPFUL TO HAVE IN IN THE FLOODS AND IN ANY EMERGENCY SITUATION, BUT IT ALSO FAILED TO PASS. AND THEN ON THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE. YES.

DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS? OUR EFFORTS? JUDGE OH GO AHEAD, GO AHEAD. COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER I JUST GENERALLY WANTED TO AGAIN THANK THANK OUR TEAM FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DID. THANK YOU, ELISA, FOR ALSO HAVING TO DEAL WITH TWO SPECIAL SESSIONS AND AND THE WORK THAT Y'ALL DID. AND TOGETHER WITH THE CONFERENCE OF URBAN COUNTIES TO OUR OUR LOBBYING TEAM, MELISSA AND EVERYBODY ELSE WHO WHO HELPED OUT. I JUST WANTED TO TO MENTION, I KNOW WE HAVE A LONG AGENDA, SO I DON'T WANT TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON IT. BUT THE THE BOUNTY BILL AND THE BATHROOM BILL REALLY REFLECT WHAT WE'RE SEEING AT THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL. AND AND SOMETHING THAT I MENTIONED AT A PREVIOUS MEETING,

[02:00:01]

YOU KNOW, ACCORDING TO RESEARCH BY RUTGERS UNIVERSITY, ONLY 33% OF TEXAS LAWMAKERS IN 2025, IN THE 2025 LEGISLATIVE SESSION WERE WERE WOMEN. SO THAT THAT THAT SHOULD BE VERY ALARMING TO TO ALL OF US. WE HAVE TO DO A LOT BETTER AND AND KEEP UP, KEEP UP THE FIGHT. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU TO THE COURT FOR ALL THE SUPPORT THAT WAS GIVEN DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND FOR FOR THOSE THAT THAT SPENT TIME CREATING OUR AGENDA AND WORKING ON OUR AGENDA. AND, YOU KNOW, IT IT IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE, PROBABLY. BUT IT SEEMS TO ME EVERY LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS JUST, YOU KNOW, GETTING GETTING MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT FOR SO MANY DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES AND, YOU KNOW, ATTACKS ON LOCAL CONTROL, ATTACKS ON WOMEN, ATTACKS ON TRANS PEOPLE, ATTACKS ON PEOPLE OF COLOR, CULTURE WARS. AND WE HAVE TO JUST BRING IT BACK TO WE'RE HERE TO WORK ON ON BEHALF OF WORKING FAMILIES AND WORKING INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND AND WE KNOW WE'RE THE CLOSEST TO THE PEOPLE, AND WE KNOW WHAT WHAT OUR COMMUNITIES NEED. AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO, TO FIGHT FOR THAT. SO THANK YOU ALL ONCE AGAIN. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU, LISA, FOR EVERYTHING. YOU DID A LOT OF WORK AND A LOT OF COORDINATION WITH LEGAL AND EVERYONE ELSE. SO VERY THANKFUL FOR FOR THAT. I DO HAVE SOME COMMENTS. COMMISSIONER BUTLER RELATED SPECIFICALLY TO SB TEN AND ALL OF THE EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR AND THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR TO TO REALLY LIMIT THE AMOUNT THAT COUNTIES AND CITIES CAN, CAN INCREASE THEIR TAX RATES. WE HAPPEN TO BE AT THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE. ON THE COUPLE OF DAYS THAT THE SENATE WAS DEBATING SB TEN, AND EVERYBODY WAS ALARMED BECAUSE THE SENATE WAS CONSIDERING A 1% CAP ON THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE. EVERY SINGLE COUNTY FROM THE SMALLEST, MOST RURAL COUNTIES TO THE LARGE URBAN COUNTIES WHERE INCREDIBLY, INCREDIBLY ALARMED AT AT THE FACT THAT THE SENATE WAS EVEN CONSIDERING A 1% CAP, WHILE SB TEN DIDN'T END UP PASSING. I THINK EVERYBODY AGREES THAT THESE EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF THE STATE TO CAP LOCAL GOVERNMENT TAX RATES ARE GOING TO CONTINUE, AND FROM FROM ALL ACCOUNTS GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE MORE AND MORE AGGRESSIVE AS TIME GOES ON. YOU KNOW, I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH MEMBERS OF OUR DELEGATION AND WITH OUR LOBBYISTS AND WITH TAC AND OTHERS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR US TO REALLY, REALLY BE PROACTIVE AND BE PREPARED AND START FORMING COALITIONS AS BROADLY AS POSSIBLE TO TO MOUNT A DEFENSE AGAINST THESE TYPES OF ACTIONS MOVING FORWARD. YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S EASY TO LOSE HOPE AND THINK THAT THIS IS A FOREGONE CONCLUSION. BUT TALKING TO OTHER COUNTIES FROM ACROSS THE STATE, I REALLY DO THINK THAT IF EVERYBODY WORKS TOGETHER AND STARTS, YOU KNOW, SPEAKING TO OUR, OUR SENATE AND OUR IN OUR, IN OUR REPRESENTATIVES ON THE HOUSE LEVEL, THAT THEY'LL BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S REALLY AT RISK FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND, AND AND AGAIN, IT'S NOT JUST THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO SEVERELY LIMIT OUR ABILITY TO RAISE FUNDS, BUT IT'S ALSO THAT IN COMBINATION WITH THE INCREASED STATE MANDATES. AND SO SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT I HEARD AT TAC

[02:05:05]

IT'S NOT WASTEFUL SPENDING ON BEHALF OF COMMISSIONERS COURTS, ESPECIALLY THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT. AND, YOU KNOW, WE WE. HAD TO INCREASE OUR TAX RATE THIS YEAR TO BE ABLE TO KEEP OUR RESERVES AT A HEALTHY LEVEL BECAUSE OF THE CLOSE TO $20 MILLION, PROBABLY IN ADDITIONAL UNFUNDED MANDATES THAT WERE HANDED DOWN. IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE EVEN MORE, ESPECIALLY TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE, YOU KNOW, THE CONVERSATION THAT WE JUST HAD EARLIER REGARDING THE RESOURCES THAT THE TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR'S OFFICE NEEDS AND WE MAY HAVE TO BE PROVIDING TO THEM, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THAT THAT PUSHES THE THE AMOUNT UP EVEN FURTHER. AND SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, I EVEN HAVE BEEN HAVE BEEN TALKING TO TO FOLKS AND WANTING TO TO LOOK AT ANY TYPE OF LEGAL AVENUE THAT WE MAY HAVE TO SUE THE STATE BECAUSE IT'S ILLEGAL FOR THE STATE TO ASSESS A PROPERTY TAX. BUT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THEY'RE DOING DISGUISED AS COUNTY TAX, RIGHT? THIS IS REALLY A STATE PROPERTY TAX DISGUISED AS A COUNTY TAX. AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK I'M GOING TO BE CONTINUING TO PUSH THAT NARRATIVE AT THE STATE LEVEL AS WELL. AMONGST THE CONFERENCE OF URBAN COUNTY AND COUNTIES AND AT TAC, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AT SOME POINT, IT JUST SEEMS TO ME LIKE THE ONLY REASON WHY THE STATE HAS, YOU KNOW, WANTS TO KEEP COMMISSIONERS COURTS AROUND IS SO THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO ASSESS HIGHER PROPERTY TAXES THAT GO TO STATE PROGRAMS AND BLAME US FOR IT. WE'RE JUST WE'RE JUST A SCAPEGOAT. AND SO I THINK WE NEED TO WE NEED TO REALLY, REALLY BE IN LOCKSTEP ON THIS, ON THIS NARRATIVE AND PUSH FORWARD AND, YOU KNOW, FILE BILLS TO IN THE FUTURE. WE NEED TO TALK TO OUR LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION TO BE FILING BILLS PROACTIVELY THAT SAY THAT WE THAT WE CAN NO LONGER AFFORD UNFUNDED MANDATES, THAT IF ANY TIME THE STATE WANTS US TO PROVIDE FURTHER PROGRAMING OR SERVICES, THEN THEY MUST PROVIDE THE FUNDING TO BACK THAT UP. YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT. COMMISSIONER. ON THAT NOTE, I DO WANT TO REMIND THE PUBLIC AND AND COMMEND ALL OF YOU ON ONE, ONE PARTICULAR PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT MADE IT PRETTY FAR IN THE PROCESS IN THE SENATE, WHICH WAS OUR INDIGENT BURIALS REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM.

SENATOR BLANCO ALMOST PASSED THAT OUT OF THE SENATE AND WAS A HUGE LIFT. BUT THAT IS THE KIND OF APPROACH AND COALITIONS THAT WE STARTED BUILDING THIS SESSION AND THAT WE MUST CONTINUE TO BUILD UPON TO TRY TO GET BACK SOME MONEY. AND I KNOW MAYBE INDIGENT BURIALS IS A VERY, IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS, A VERY SMALL SLICE OF OUR BUDGET. BUT IT IS A MANDATE FROM THE STATE, AN UNFUNDED MANDATE FROM THE STATE. SO THROUGH THAT PIECE OF

[02:10:04]

LIKE IT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE. BUT I THINK THAT IS THE KIND OF COALITION, BECAUSE VERY QUICKLY WE GOT ON BOARD OTHER COUNTIES, SMALLER COUNTIES AND OTHER COUNTIES SAYING YES, LIKE THAT IS A CONCERN FOR US. THE GROWING COST OF INDIGENT BURIALS IN COUNTIES, FOR EXAMPLE. SO MAYBE USING THAT MODEL, WE CAN PUT MORE THINGS ON OUR AGENDA TO TRY TO BRING BACK FUNDING FROM THE STATE TO COVER SOME, SOME OF THESE MANDATES. BUT YES, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. WE NEED TO CONTINUE FIGHTING ON THOSE REVENUE GENERATING BILLS. I KNOW SENATOR BLANCO ALSO WAS AGAINST IT, AND I THINK HE SENT A LETTER TO ON THE TAX RATES.

SO JUST COMMENDING EVERYBODY ON ON THEIR WORK AND TO KEEP BUILDING THOSE COALITIONS. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. LISA. YES, COMMISSIONER CORONADO, JUST A COUPLE THINGS, JUDGE. YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER STOUT, YOU'RE RIGHT ON POINT. AND ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO IS THAT WE KNOW WE FOUGHT IN THE PAST WHEN WHEN THE STATE IS TAKING A LOT MORE OF THE FEES, PARTICULARLY FOR THE TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR, WHEN THEY COLLECT FEES ON US. AND WE'VE TRIED TO GET A HIGHER AMOUNT OR PERCENTAGE BACK, THIS WOULD BE AN IDEAL OPPORTUNE TIME. SO IF IN FACT THEY ARE CAUSING US ADDITIONAL WORK BECAUSE OF THE TO OUR ANY OF OUR DEPARTMENTS, RIGHT. BECAUSE OF THAT, THEN MAYBE THEY SHOULD BE A LITTLE MORE LENIENT IN GIVING BACK SOME OF THOSE FEES TO THE COUNTY. YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S JUST APPROPRIATE FOR THEM TO DO THAT. AND MAYBE IN THAT VEIN, WE CAN START TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, ADVOCATE TO GET SOME MORE FUNDING ON ON THOSE LINES. ADDITIONALLY, I'M GOING TO CONTINUE AT THE NEXT SESSION. I KNOW I SPOKE TO SOME OF OUR LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION WITH RESPECT TO THE WATER HYDRANT ISSUE, AND THEY TRIED TO PUT IT AS A RIDER ON SOME OF THE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE THAT, YOU KNOW, AND THE SAFETY ISSUES THAT THE SPECIAL SESSION FROM THE GOVERNOR WERE TAKING UP, UNFORTUNATELY, THEY WOULD NOT NOT ALLOW STANDALONE, YOU KNOW, BILLS FOR THOSE ISSUES. BUT I'M GOING TO CONTINUE, AND I THINK WE SHOULD CONTINUE WITH THIS WATER HYDRANT SAFETY ISSUE. THAT AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE MONEY AVAILABLE.

AND WE SURELY NEED TO MEET WITH THE WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD AGAIN SOON BECAUSE I THINK, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THERE'S FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE AND THAT'S A PRIORITY. THE GOVERNOR AND THIS SHOULD BE ONE OF THOSE PRIORITIES. SO I THINK WE NEED TO KEEP WORKING ON THAT. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. GOOD. THANK YOU ALICIA. APPRECIATE ALL YOUR HELP. THANK YOU JUDGE. THANK YOU LISA. HAVE A GOOD DAY. BYE BYE. THANK YOU. WE WILL TAKE NO ACTION FOR ITEM NINE. A ITEM TEN PURCHASING TEN A APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE AWARD.

RECOMMENDATION OF BID 2502 FOR AS NEEDED BASE COURSE MATERIALS FOR EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS TO JOBE MATERIALS LP OF EL PASO. UNIT COST AS INDICATED IN TABULATION PURCHASING APPROVED

[A. Approve and authorize the award recommendation of Bid 25-024, As-Needed Base Course Materials for El Paso County, TX to Jobe Materials, L.P. of El Paso, Unit cost as indicated in tabulation. Purchasing approved on August 26, 2025. Funding is available in SR-R&B-ROAD RESURFACING. Karen Davidson, Purchasing Agent, Purchasing Department, 915-273-3349]

[B. Approve and authorize the Purchase of Summus Network Leasing 5 through the Information Technology Department using TIPS Contract 210101 awarded to Sequel Data Systems Inc. of Austin, Texas in the amount $2,933,921.93 and DIR Contract DIR-CPO-5033 awarded to Summus Industries, Inc/Summus Financial Services of Sugar Land, TX for $3,293,688.00 (leasing of network equipment). Funding is available in GF-ITD-RENT/LEASES-HARWARE. Purchasing approved on August 26, 2025. Karen Davidson, Purchasing Agent, Purchasing Department, 915-273-3349]

[02:15:02]

[A. Approve and adopt the Pathway to American Citizenship for Employees (PACE) Program and policy as a County fringe benefit under Strategic Goal 7.1.1: Value the El Paso County Family. (8974-OP) Irene Gutierrez, Executive Director, Community Services, 915-273-3485]

THIS ITEM TODAY IS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER THE ADOPTING THE POLICY THAT WILL GUIDE THE ADMINISTRATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAM. AND I CAN VERY BRIEFLY JUST KIND OF RECAP WHAT THE PATHWAY TO AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP PROGRAM IS. AGAIN, IT'S IN FULFILLMENT OF ONE OF YOUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES IN THE PAST TO VALUE THE COUNTY FAMILY. IT'S UNDER 7.11 OF YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN, AND IT WILL ALLOW, AS A FRINGE BENEFIT, ELIGIBLE COUNTY EMPLOYEES WHO ARE LEGAL OR LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENTS THAT ARE EMPLOYED BY THE COUNTY. AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADVANCE THEIR PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP. THE COUNTY HAS APPROPRIATED FUNDS FOR US TO REIMBURSE THE COST OF THE NATURALIZATION APPLICATION AND REIMBURSE THEM FOR THE BIOMETRICS PROCESS THROUGH THAT INITIATIVE, SO I REQUEST CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTION OF THIS POLICY AND THE INITIATIVE. I'D LIKE TO COMMENTS, IF I CAN. THANK YOU. IRENE. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A FEW COMMENTS. I JUST WANT TO I WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN.

THANK YOU BETSY. THANK YOU IRENE. THANK YOU TO THE OFFICE OF NEW AMERICANS AS WELL. SINCE I'VE BEEN IN OFFICE, IT'S BEEN A PRIORITY OF MINE TO MAKE EL PASO AS WELCOMING EL PASO COUNTY AS WELCOMING AS IT AS IT CAN. AND WHEN IT COMES TO IMMIGRATION, WE WE HEAR SO OFTEN, WELL, PEOPLE NEED TO DO IT THE RIGHT WAY. YOU KNOW. WELL, HERE WE ARE TO HELP PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, DO IT THE RIGHT WAY. WE'RE WE'RE A NATION OF IMMIGRANTS. FOR A PERSON TO LEAVE EVERYTHING THAT THEY KNOW AND COME HERE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE HERE TO BUILD. THEY'RE HERE TO, TO TO PROVIDE. AND THEY'RE PEOPLE THAT WE SHOULD WELCOME WITH OPEN ARMS. AGAIN, SHAMEFUL THAT THE POLITICS OF DIVISION AND FEAR HAS MADE US A COUNTRY THAT IS HOSTILE TO ITS OWN HERITAGE AS A NATION OF IMMIGRANTS. BUT I BELIEVE IN OUR PEOPLE, AND THAT WE WILL OPEN OUR EYES TO WHAT HAS HAPPENED, AND THAT WE'RE GOING TO ULTIMATELY MAKE STEPS TO CORRECT IT. IN THE MEANTIME, I THINK THAT WITH THIS ACTION, OUR COUNTY IS LEADING AND A VERY IMPORTANT WAY TO WELCOME NEW AMERICANS AND OFFERING THEM SUPPORT IN BECOMING CITIZENS.

SO THANKS AGAIN TO OUR STAFF FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO OUR EMPLOYEES AND FOR NAVIGATING THIS VERY COMPLICATED SYSTEM. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER, WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOUT. THE VOTING IS OPEN. COMMISSIONER BUTLER IS ABSENT. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. JUDGE, WOULD YOU LIKE. THANK YOU. I DO WANT TO ADD.

I'M SORRY, BETSY. GO AHEAD, IRENE, GO AHEAD. IRENE, I JUST WANTED TO ADD ONE MORE THING ON

[02:20:03]

EXCELLENT. GREAT ROLE MODELING. THANK YOU AS ALWAYS. THANK YOU. BETSY. YOUR THOUGHTS ON ANOTHER ITEM BEFORE LUNCH? I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL WANT TO DO ITEM I THAT WAS PULLED FROM CONSENT.

YES, COMMISSIONER CORONADO, GIVE ME ONE SECOND. I'LL READ THAT ITEM FOR I PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA BY COMMISSIONER CORONADO. APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO SIGN THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN EL PASO COUNTY AND GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF EL PASO, INC. TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO PARTICIPANTS IN THE EL PASO PROMISE PROGRAM. THERE IS NO

[I. Approve and authorize the County Judge to sign the Memorandum of Understanding between El Paso County and Goodwill Industries of El Paso, Inc. to provide assistance to participants in the El Paso Promise Program. There is no fiscal impact. (Contract No. 2025-0733) Catherine Jones, Director, Criminal Justice Coordination, 915-273-3353]

[A. GRANT AWARD/ACCEPTANCE RATIFICATION - Approve and authorize the ratification of the County Judge’s electronic award acceptance of the FY25-26 Office of the Attorney General (OAG) Victim Coordinator and Liaison Grant on behalf of the El Paso County Sheriff's Office from September 1, 2025, through August 31, 2026, in the amount of $49,500. No County match is required by OAG, but a match in the amount of $70,149 is required by the department to sustain the program. The match is available in GF-SOCRIVIC-XFEROUT-GRNT MATCH. (Contract No. 2025-0731) Oscar Ugarte, Sheriff, EPCSO, 915-273-3800]

THIS GRANT WILL FUND ONE POSITION, A FULL TIME POSITION THAT'S CRITICAL TO THE COUNTY AND IS DEDICATED TO OFFERING IMMEDIATE SERVICES TO CRIME VICTIMS OUT IN THE COUNTY OF EL PASO EACH YEAR. THIS POSITION SERVES APPROXIMATELY 800 VICTIMS EACH YEAR AND SERVING VARIOUS SERVICES SUCH AS CRISIS INTERVENTION, ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING FOR PROTECTIVE ORDERS, ASSISTANCE WITH TRANSPORTATION TO VARIOUS LOCATIONS SUCH AS SHELTERS, THE FOOD BANKS. WE ALSO ASSIST FINANCIALLY WITH THE CRIME VICTIMS COMPENSATION PROGRAM, VARIOUS REFERRALS AS NEEDED, AND OF COURSE, THE CONTINUAL FOLLOW UPS. BESIDES THE INITIAL IMMEDIATE SERVICES THAT ARE NEEDED FOR VICTIMS, THE CRIME VICTIMS LIAISON WILL ALSO INTERACT WITHIN THE COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING OFFERING PRESENTATIONS, ATTENDING AND VARIOUS. COMMUNITY FAIRS, AND

[02:25:02]

THIS ITEM IS FOR THE ACTUAL AWARD. NOW THAT IT'S COME THROUGH. AND UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS PART OF THOSE GRANTS THAT WE WAIT TO HEAR AT THE END OF THE YEAR. IN AUGUST, WE RECEIVED NOTICE LATE AUGUST THAT WE HAD RECEIVED THIS AWARD, AND WE HAD TO MAKE A DECISION TO APPROVE OR NOT. STAFF DID MAKE THE DECISION TO APPROVE THE AWARD, AND WE'RE BRINGING THIS FOR YOU AS A RATIFICATION, HOPING THAT YOU WILL CONCUR WITH THAT, WITH THAT AWARD ACCEPTANCE. WE'VE DONE THIS FOR YEARS. GLADYS CARMONA IS THE RECIPIENT OF GRANT FUNDING, BUT JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I GAVE YOU THAT ADDITIONAL HISTORY TO HELP YOU UNDERSTAND WHICH ONE THIS ONE IS. THANK YOU. MELISSA. YES, SIR. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOUT. THE VOTING IS OPEN. OKAY. COMMISSIONER BUTLER IS ABSENT.

MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. ONE MORE BITSY, OR CAN WE JUDGE? I THINK EVERYTHING ELSE WILL TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME. AND THE OTHER TWO ITEMS THAT WERE PULLED FROM CONSENT WERE PULLED BY COMMISSIONER BUTLER. SO I DON'T THINK WE CAN HEAR THEM WITHOUT HER PRESENCE. OKAY. SO I BELIEVE WE WOULD BE READY TO ADJOURN FOR LUNCH OR NOT ADJOURN. BREAK FOR LUNCH. I'M READY TO ADJOURN, BUT TAKE A BREAK FOR LUNCH. JESSICA. OKAY. COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL RECESS FOR ONE HOUR. IT IS 11:56 A.M.

[02:32:44]

THEY STOPPED HITTING ON CHICKEN BREAST. WHAT'S VERY POPULAR IS WEENIE HOT DOG. AND THEN THEY STOP HITTING ON THE HOT DOG. AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY START HITTING ON THE SHRIMP, AND THEN IT SLOWS DOWN ON THE SHRIMP. NOW I'M USING SOME STINK BAIT AND IT REALLY STINKS, SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN CATCH SOMETHING WITH SOME STINK BAIT. BUT IT'S GREAT WHEN THE FISH ARE BITING. IT'S GREAT. YEAH, THE TROUT WILL PUT THE HOOK IN THEIR MOUTH AND WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO WHEN THEY PULL ON IT, LIKE THEY PULLED BEFORE. THEN YOU YANK ON THE LINE AND GET THE HOOK SET IN THEIR MOUTH, BUT YOU GOT TO TROUT. IT IS KIND OF HARD FISHING FOR TROUT.

LIKE THAT. YEAH. THERE HE GOES. WELL, THE LARGE ONE, THE LARGEST ONE I CAUGHT HERE WAS A 15 POUNDER. YEAH, YOU CAN EAT THEM. I DON'T, BECAUSE I LIKE TO CATCH AND RELEASE. I WOULD IF I WAS GOING TO EAT FISH I'D EAT THE FISH. AND I'VE BEEN FISHING HERE FOR 60 YEARS. AND YOU LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY.

[02:36:33]

[02:49:34]

[02:49:39]

[02:50:07]

THEN YOU YANK ON THE LINE AND GET THE HOOK SET IN THEIR MOUTH. BUT YOU GOTTA TROUT. IT IS KIND OF HARD FISHING FOR TROUT. LIKE THAT. YEAH. THERE HE GOES. WELL, THE LARGE ONE, THE LARGEST ONE I CAUGHT HERE WAS A 15 POUNDER. YEAH, YOU CAN EAT THEM. I DON'T, BECAUSE I LIKE TO CATCH AND RELEASE. I WOULD IF I WAS GOING TO EAT FISH I'D EAT THE FISH. AND I'VE BEEN FISHING HERE FOR 60 YEARS. AND YOU LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY.

CON UNO DE LOS TESOROS MAS GRANDES DEL PASO Y ES EL PARQUE MUCHAS PERSONAS LO TOMAN POR SENTADO ENTRE SUS INMENSA VERDE DECENAS DE ACTIVIDADES Y RINCONES. QUÉ NO TE ACABAS EN UN SOLO DIA? ES LA MANERA PERFECTA DE ARRANCAR ESTA AVENTURA. MAS DE CUATROCIENTOS. EN EL PARQUE MAS GRANDE DEL CONDADO DE EL PASO Y LO MEJOR EN VERANO DE 5 A.M. 8 P.M. SIN PRE-TEXTOS EL VERANO ESTA ALBERCA OLIMPICA DE CINCUENTA METROS TIENE CLAVADA TOBOGGANS Y VOLEIBOL ABRE DESDE ESTE DE JUNIO, LUNES A CUATRO PM. DE SEMANA DE DOS CINCO TAMBIÉN OFRECEN CLASES DE NATACION CON HORARIOS FLEXIBLES. TENGAN TODO TIENE UNA OPORTUNIDAD DE APRENDER A NADA CON COMPANEROS DE SU NIVEL DE SU EDAD. PADRES DE FAMILIA CREAM. CUANDO LES DIGO UNA CLASE DE NATACION, LA ENERGIA DE SUS PECKS ENCANTADOS. POR QUÉ ES COMO SE VAYAN A DORMIR? EL TOQUE ESPECIALES LLEVARLOS DESPUÉS POR PIZZA Y ESO SUFICIENTE NO OBSTANTE EL AGUA ES PARA TODOS LA CANTIDAD DE BENEFICIOS, TANTO FISICOS COMO MENTALES ES ENORME EL MOVIMIENTO DEL AGUA. EL SONIDO DEL AGUA ES PARA EMPEZAR LA TRANSPARENCIA EL COLOR TEXTURE BUENO EL AGUA. LES PUEDO DECIR ES ES NUESTRO AMBIENTE. ESTE VERANO PUEDES VIVIR. LA FANTASIA DE MICHAEL PHELPS O VIENE DE LA CINTA. DESPUÉS DE

[02:55:02]

MICKEY'S ICE CREAM VIENE TODAS LAS TARDES Y ENCONTRAR COMIDO LA GENTE ESCUCHAR LA MUSICA Y NO BUSCA Y BUENO AL MENOS CON LOS FRESNOS SI FUNCIONAN. YA LO HABIAS VISTO TODO AGARRATE PORQUE TAMBIÉN HAY CANCION PARA PRACTICAR CUALQUIER DEPORTE SE TOCA AQUI QUIERE HACER NADA SIMPLEMENTE NOS SALE. PERO QUÉ MUCHAS PARTES SON DIVERTIRSE? QUIERE SENTIRTE COMO UN MAGNET.

UN COUNTRY CLUB. EL GRAN CAMPO DE GOLF DE ASCARATE ES TU LUGAR HOYOS CLASES PARA TODOS LOS NIVELES. DE ASCARATE PURO CAMARON DE SOPA INSTANTANEO ESTAS MUY EQUIVOCADO ENCONTRAR DESDE CATFISH CARPA LA PAZ LA LLUVIA CONSIGUE LICENCIA APROBAR TO SUERTE. SI LO TUYO ES RELAJATE CON UNA CANA PARA MI LA JOYA DE LA CORONA DEL PARQUE ASCARATE ES ESTE INMENSO LLEGO DONDE PUEDES PESCAR Y POR SUPUESTO, DISFRUTAR DE UNA MARIDO Y DORADO ATARDECER CLARO LAS MEJORES AVENTURAS ESTAN MAS CERCA DE LO PENSAMOS NOS VEMOS EN LA PROXIMA PARADA. YO SOY MIGUEL CONTRERAS DE NOTICIAS 26. EL REPORTERO FAVORITO DE TU REPORTERO FAVORITO.

[03:06:25]

[03:06:29]

IN THE SUMMERTIME. IT'S NICE AND COOL DOWN HERE. ABOUT 8:00 IT STARTS GETTING WARM, BUT IT'S NICE AND COOL. COME DOWN HERE AND RELAX FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS BEFORE YOU HAVE TO GO OUT HERE AND FACE THE WORLD. THE BAIT, IT VARIES. YOU KNOW, WHEN I FIRST STARTED OUT HERE, THEY WERE HITTING ON CHICKEN BREAST. THEY STOPPED HITTING ON CHICKEN BREAST. WHAT'S VERY POPULAR IS WEENIE HOT DOG. AND THEN THEY STOP HITTING ON THE HOT DOG. AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY START HITTING ON THE SHRIMP, AND THEN IT SLOWS DOWN ON THE SHRIMP. NOW I'M USING SOME STINK BAIT AND IT REALLY STINKS. SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN CATCH SOMETHING WITH SOME STINK BAIT, BUT IT'S GREAT WHEN THE FISH ARE BITING. IT'S GREAT. YEAH, THE TROUT WILL PUT THE HOOK IN THEIR MOUTH AND WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO WHEN THEY PULL ON IT LIKE THEY PULLED BEFORE.

THEN YOU YANK ON THE LINE AND GET THE HOOK SET IN THEIR MOUTH, BUT YOU GOTTA TROUT. IT IS KIND OF HARD FISHING FOR TROUT. LIKE THAT, BUT. YEAH. THERE HE GOES. WELL, THE LARGE ONE, THE LARGEST ONE I CAUGHT HERE WAS A 15 POUNDER. YEAH, YOU CAN EAT THEM. I DON'T, BECAUSE I LIKE TO CATCH AND RELEASE. I WOULD IF I WAS GOING TO EAT FISH I'D EAT THE FISH. AND I'VE BEEN FISHING HERE FOR 60 YEARS. AND YOU LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY.

[03:10:13]

[03:23:15]

[03:23:19]

IN THE SUMMERTIME. IT'S NICE AND COOL DOWN HERE. ABOUT 8:00 IT STARTS GETTING WARM, BUT IT'S NICE AND COOL. COME DOWN HERE AND RELAX FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS BEFORE YOU HAVE TO GO OUT HERE AND FACE THE WORLD. THE BAIT, IT VARIES. YOU KNOW, WHEN I FIRST STARTED OUT HERE, THEY WERE HITTING ON CHICKEN BREAST. THEY STOPPED HITTING ON CHICKEN BREAST. WHAT'S VERY POPULAR IS WEENIE HOT DOG. AND THEN THEY STOP HITTING ON THE HOT DOG. AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY START HITTING ON THE SHRIMP, AND THEN IT SLOWS DOWN ON THE SHRIMP. NOW I'M USING SOME STINK BAIT AND IT REALLY STINKS, SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN CATCH SOMETHING WITH SOME STINK BAIT, BUT IT'S GREAT WHEN THE FISH ARE BITING. IT'S GREAT. YEAH, THE TROUT WILL PUT THE HOOK IN THEIR MOUTH AND WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO WHEN THEY PULL ON IT, LIKE THEY PULLED BEFORE.

THEN YOU YANK ON THE LINE AND GET THE HOOK SET IN THEIR MOUTH, BUT YOU GOT TO TROUT. IT IS KIND OF HARD FISHING FOR TROUT. LIKE THAT. BUT. YEAH. THERE HE GOES. WELL, THE LARGE ONE, THE LARGEST ONE I CAUGHT HERE WAS A 15 POUNDER. YEAH, YOU CAN EAT THEM. I DON'T BECAUSE I LIKE TO

[03:25:03]

UNO DE LOS MAS GRANDES DEL PASO Y ES EL PARQUE ASCARATE MUCHAS PERSONAS LO TOMAN POR SENTADO ENTRE SUS INTENSAS ARIAS VERDES, DECENAS DE ACTIVIDADES Y RINCONES. QUÉ NO TE ACABAS EN UN SOLO DIA? ES LA MANERA PERFECTA DE ARRANCAR ESTA AVENTURA. MAS DE CUATROCIENTOS EN EL PARQUE MAS GRANDE DEL CONDADO DE EL PASO Y LO MEJOR EN VERANO DE 5 A.M. 8 P.M. SIN PRE-TEXTOS EL VERANO ESTA ALBERCA OLYMPIA TIENE. DOS.

TOBOGGANS Y VOLEIBOL DESDE CATORCE DE JUNIO DE DOS CUATRO PM DE SEMANA DE DOS CINCO TAMBIÉN OFRECEN CLASES DE NATACION CON HORARIOS FLEXIBLES TENGAN TODOS TIENE UNA OPORTUNIDAD DE APRENDER CON COMPANEROS DE SU NIVEL DE SU EDAD PADRES DE FAMILIA CREAM.

CUANDO LES DIGO FUE UNA CLASE DE NATACION, LA ENERGIA DE SUS PECKS ENCANTADOS PORQUE ES COMMON Y SE VAN A DORMIR EL TOQUE ESPECIALES LLEVARLOS DESPUÉS POR ESO SERA SUFICIENTE, NO OBSTANTE ES PARA TODOS LA CANTIDAD DE BENEFICIOS, TANTO FISICOS COMO ES ENORME MOVIMIENTO DE AGUA. EL SONIDO DEL AGUA ES PARA EMPEZAR LA. TRANSPARENCIA EL COLOR TEXTURE BUENO EL AGUA Q LES PUEDO DECIR ES ES NUESTRO AMBIENTE. ESTE VERANO PUEDES VIVIR LA FANTASIA DE MICHAEL PHELPS O VIENE DE LA SERENA. Y SI DESPUÉS DE NADA AUN TE QUEDAN ENERGIAS. ORIENTA UNA HIBRIDA POR SIX DOLARES AL DIA RAPIDO Y NO TE KANSAS LA MITAD CON ESTAS VECES. NUNCA SE TE VA A ESCAPAR EL CARRITO DE LAS NIEVES. NO. ME ICE CREAM BIEN TODAS LAS TARDES Y ENCONTRADO ES PAN COMO ES LA GENTE ESCUCHAR LA MUSICA Y NO BUSCA Y BUENO AL MENOS CON LOS FRESNOS SI FUNCIONAN. Y YA LO HABIA VISTO TODO AGARRATE PORQUE TAMBIÉN HAY CANCION PARA PRACTICAR CUALQUIER DEPORTE OCURRA AQUI QUIERE HACER NADA SIMPLEMENTE NOS SALE PERO MUCHAS PARTES SON DIVERTIRSE. QUIERES SENTIRTE COMO UN MAGNATE SIN UN COUNTRY CLUB. EL GRAN CAMPO DE GOLF DE ASCARATE. ESTE LUGAR VEINTISIETE DE HOYOS Y CLASES PARA TODOS LOS NIVELES.

DE ASCARATE HABIA PURO CAMARON DE SOPA INSTANTANEO ESTAS MUY EQUIVOCADO ENCONTRAR DESDE CATFISH CARPA LA PAZ LA LLUVIA CON LICENCIA. SOLO TUYO ES UNA CANA PARA MI LA JOYA DE LA

[03:30:03]

EL REPORTER FAVORITO REPORTERO FAVORITO.

[03:36:25]

[A. Approve and authorize the County Judge to sign the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Certification of Signature Authority, delegating authority to the Executive Director of the El Paso Transportation Authority (ETA), acting in the capacity of the El Paso County Director of Transit Operations, to execute TxDOT and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant documents as outlined. All TxDOT and FTA grant documents must be brought to the Commissioners Court for review and approval prior to signature.  (Contract No. 2025-0560) (#9362-OP) John Andoh, Director, Transit Operations, 915-273-3838]

AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS REQUEST, IF THERE ARE ANY. I SHOULD ALSO ADD THAT THIS REQUEST WAS BROUGHT BEFORE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS LAST MONTH, AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WAS SUPPORTIVE OF SUBMITTING THIS RECOMMENDATION TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR CONSIDERATION. AND IF I MAY ADD, THERE WAS AN ITEM IN THE BACKUP THAT INCLUDED LIKE A MANAGERIAL OPERATIONS POLICY, BUT THAT WAS THAT IS NO LONGER WHAT THE REQUEST IS. IT'S VERY SPECIFIC, AS MR. ANDO EXPLAINED, VERY SPECIFIC TO ITEMS THAT COME BEFORE THE COURT THAN HIM HAVING THE AUTHORITY TO SIGN OFF ON THEM IN THE TXDOT SYSTEM, WHICH IS NORMALLY ELECTRONIC. I DO BELIEVE BARBARA WANTS TO SHARE SOME CONCERNS FROM HER PERSPECTIVE ON THIS, BUT IT'S REALLY A POLICY DECISION OF THE COURT. BARBARA, DO YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD? YES, JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS, THIS IS BARBARA PARKER, COUNTY AUDITOR. MY CONCERN WITH THIS IS THAT CURRENTLY ALL OF THE GRANTS FOR THE COUNTY, NO MATTER WHAT THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS ARE, ARE APPROVED AND SIGNED. THEY'RE THE COURT APPROVED JUDGE TO SIGN THOSE, TO ACCEPT THE AWARDS AND TO MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THOSE PARTICULAR AWARDS.

TEXT OF MONEY. SORRY. TEX, DOT GRANTS FOR THE LGC ARE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. TEX DOT WOULD NOT

[03:40:06]

WHAT'S YOUR HOW CAN WE OFFSET THAT? SO ONE OF THE THINGS I MENTIONED EARLIER, JUDGE, I THINK WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS WHEN WE SPOKE IS THAT THIS DOES NOT TAKE THE JUDGE'S AUTHORITY AWAY. SO THE JUDGE STILL HAS THE SAME ACCESS AND AUTHORITY INTO THE TEX DOT SYSTEMS AND WILL STILL GET THE NOTIFICATIONS THAT HE IS ALWAYS RECEIVED. AND THE REASON WHY THAT IS IMPORTANT, WHILE THE GRANT IS STILL UNDER THE COUNTY, IS THAT THE GRANTS TEAM HAS ACCESS TO THAT SAME INFORMATION AND NOTIFICATION, SO THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT NOTIFICATIONS ARE BEING SENT TO THE JUDGE. SO AND I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, WHENEVER THERE'S A GRANT AMENDMENT REQUIRED OR NOT, JUST AMENDMENTS, IT'S EVERY TIME THERE'S A LITTLE REPORT OR WE HAVE TO MAKE A CHANGE IN A REPORT, WE'RE NOTIFIED VIA EMAIL. AND IT'S ALL TRACKED IN THIS ONLINE TEXT SYSTEM. AND SO THIS DOES NOT REMOVE ACCESS FROM THE GRANTS TEAM WHICH THEY GET THROUGH THE JUDGE'S OFFICE. THEY THEY THE JUDGE'S OFFICE SHARES THAT THAT EMAIL NOTIFICATION WITH THE GRANTS TEAM. THE GRANTS ARE NOT EVEN THE NOTIFICATION. THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THAT ACCOUNT, TO THAT EMAIL ACCOUNT. AND SO THEY CAN GO IN THERE AND LOOK FOR ANY NOTIFICATIONS OR ANYTHING FROM TXDOT AS WELL. SO I BELIEVE THEY WOULD STILL BE ABLE TO SEE ANY, ANY INQUIRIES OR CHANGES OR NOTICES LIKE ONCE. SO FOR EXAMPLE, ONCE JOHN GOES IN THERE AND SIGNS OFF ON SOMETHING, A NOTIFICATION COMES BACK THAT SAYS, THIS GRANT APPLICATION HAS NOW BEEN SUBMITTED. THEN ONCE YOU ACCEPT A GRANT, IT COMES BACK WITH A NOTIFICATION. THIS GRANT AWARD HAS BEEN ACCEPTED. SO IT TELLS YOU FREQUENTLY LIKE WHAT THE ALL THE TIME, WHAT STEPS ARE HAPPENING IN THE GRANT PROCESS AND WHO HAS DONE WHAT. SO THAT'S THAT IS ONE PROTECTION, IF YOU WILL, THAT IT GOES TO A SEPARATE EMAIL ACCOUNT THAT THE JUDGE AND THE GRANTS TEAM HAVE ACCESS TO. SO IF MR. ANDO GOES IN THERE AND SIGNS OFF, THEY'RE STILL GOING TO GET NOTIFIED. SO IF, IF AND I AND I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH BARBARA, THIS IS NOT ABOUT A SPECIFIC PERSON CHECKS AND BALANCES. IT'S A CHECKS AND BALANCES. BUT THERE IS THAT CHECKS AND BALANCE AS WELL. WE'LL JUST HAVE TO HAVE THE THE GRANTS TEAM WOULD HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT ANYTIME THERE WAS A TRANSACTION THAT YES, THIS WAS SOMETHING APPROVED ON THE AGENDA. AND WHAT ACTION DO WE NEED TO TAKE TO ENSURE THAT TO THAT THAT CONTINUES THAT THAT IS ALREADY IN THE BACKUP WHERE IT'S JUST ADDING JOHN AS A SIGNATORY, NOT REMOVING YOU.

OKAY, JOHN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD. YES, JUDGE. AND COMMISSIONERS JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT THIS IS REALLY TRANSITION TRANSITIONAL. AS YOU'RE AWARE, THE LGC IS ACTIVELY WORKING TO TRANSITION TRANSIT OPERATIONS OVER TO THE LGC BY FISCAL YEAR 27. SO THIS IS JUST REALLY MORE OF A AN APPROACH TO GET THE LGC MORE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE GRANTS PROCESSING, BUT STILL FOLLOWING THE PROCESSES OF HAVING THE COMMISSIONERS COURT APPROVE BEFORE I SIGN AS THE JUDGES DELEGATE. YES, COMMISSIONER BUTLER. YES. SORRY, I APOLOGIZE FOR MISSING THE FIRST PART OF THIS, BUT I MY MY PERSPECTIVE ON THIS IS AND AND, YOU KNOW, SEEING JOHN ALREADY BEING INCREDIBLY PROACTIVE IN THIS TRANSITION PROCESS FOR THE LGC AND THE LEVEL OF INVOLVEMENT WITH TXDOT IS BEYOND WHAT I EVER IMAGINED WE WERE DOING WITH, WITH TXDOT. AND AND SO I SEE THIS AS A, AS A WAY TO EMPOWER JOHN TO BE ABLE TO WORK MORE CLOSELY WITH TXDOT AND MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, HE'S ABLE TO TO WORK IN CONCERT WITH THEM ON A LOT OF THESE CHANGES WHILE STILL MAINTAINING THAT OVERSIGHT WITH COMMISSIONERS

[03:45:01]

COMMISSIONER CORONADO, THANK YOU. JUDGE BARBARA, YOU MENTIONED THAT THAT MR. RANDOLPH COULD SIGN CHANGES WITHOUT NOTIFYING US. HOW IS THAT? IF MR. RANDOLPH SAYS NO, NO, IT'S A POSSIBILITY HE COULD. I DIDN'T SAY HE WOULD DO IT. THE PROCEDURE WOULD BE TO BRING IT TO THE COURT. AND THE COURT WOULD JUST LIKE THEY DO NOW. THEY APPROVE FOR THE JUDGE TO SIGN THE PAPERWORK. YOU WOULD BE APPROVING FOR MR. ANDO TO SIGN THE PAPERWORK. MY CONCERN, THOUGH, IS THAT IF YOU MAKE THIS DELEGATION FOR THE LGC, YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE A ELECTED OFFICIALS AND DEPARTMENT HEADS THAT HAVE GRANTS ASKING FOR THE SAME DELEGATION FOR THEIR GRANTS. AND DO YOU WANT TO DO THAT FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY? OKAY. AND, BETSY, DON'T WE HAVE INFORMATION IF THERE HAVE BEEN CHANGES AFTER THE FACT THAT DIDN'T COME BEFORE THE COURT? SO I WILL TELL YOU, TXDOT SYSTEM WORKS DIFFERENTLY THAN OTHER GRANTS. AND I DO THINK THAT THIS IS SPECIFIC BECAUSE WE'RE IN THE TRANSITION. SO I THINK THIS IS DIFFERENT IN THE SENSE THAT WE STOOD UP THE LGC TO MAKE IT AN INDEPENDENT BODY.

AND THIS IS PART OF THAT TRANSITION TO MAKING IT THAT INDEPENDENT BODY. IT'S GIVING IT SOME INDEPENDENCE WITH THE CHECKS AND BALANCES. WHILE THE GRANT IS STILL UNDER THE COUNTY'S RESPONSIBILITY, OTHER AGENCIES AND OTHER GRANTS THAT WE APPLY FOR, WE DON'T HAVE THE EXACT SAME SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE WITH TXDOT. SO NOT ALL OF OUR GRANTS ARE COMING THROUGH THE EXACT SAME SYSTEM. AND SO, I DON'T KNOW, I AM NOT FAMILIAR. I'M ONLY FAMILIAR WITH HOW THE TXDOT SYSTEM WORKS, BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE ONLY GRANTS THAT I'VE SEEN RUN THROUGH THIS EXACT SAME SYSTEM, BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN TIMES WHERE IT'S COME TO ME TO SIGN OFF BECAUSE IT'S AN AMENDMENT THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANY FINANCIAL IMPACT, OR IT'S A REPORT THAT WE'RE HAVING TO SUBMIT. AND SO THOSE ARE WITHIN MY AUTHORITY. SO I HAVE DONE THOSE IN THE PAST, BUT THAT'S HOW I'M AWARE OF HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS. OTHER OTHER GRANTS I DO NOT KNOW WHAT SYSTEM THEY HAVE. WE WOULD NEED TO MAKE SURE THERE'S STILL THE SAME CHECKS AND BALANCES THAT THIS SYSTEM HAS. SO I'M NOT PREPARED TO SAY HOW IT WOULD WORK FOR OTHER, OTHER GRANTS. I ALSO JUST WANT TO ADD THAT I ENVISION THAT THIS PROCESS WOULD JUST BE FOR ONE YEAR, BECAUSE BY SEPTEMBER 1ST OF 27, ALL THESE GRANTS WOULD JUST GO THROUGH THE LGC BOARD AT ANYWAY.

OKAY. AND I DO I DO WANT TO, YOU KNOW, I, I REALLY APPRECIATE BARBARA BRINGING HER CONCERN FORWARD. I DO WANT TO JUST SPELL OUT THAT'S THAT. THAT IS WHY IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN ALL OTHER GRANTS. WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF TRANSITIONING THIS TO AN INDEPENDENT BODY. WE DO HAVE CHECKS AND BALANCES BECAUSE OF THE SYSTEM THAT EXISTS. I DON'T HAVE THE SAME PARAMETERS ABOUT ALL OF OUR OTHER GRANTS. AND AND PLEASE KNOW THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING. MY OFFICE HAS BEEN WORKING WITH JOHN ON THE TRANSITION AND FOR WHAT CAN HAPPEN GOING FORWARD AFTER THEY ARE RECEIVING THE GRANTS. MY CONCERN WAS THAT THESE ARE COUNTY FUNDS. STILL, THEY'RE NOT LGC FUNDS, IT'S THE COUNTY FUNDS, AND THE COUNTY IS ON THE HOOK FOR THOSE DOLLARS BEING SPENT APPROPRIATELY. MR. ANDO IS A COUNTY EMPLOYEE AS WELL.

YEAH. AS, AS AS THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT IS AWARE, I'M. I REPRESENT BOTH THE COUNTY AS THE DIRECTOR OF TRANSIT OPERATIONS AS WELL AS THE LGC AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. AND I ENVISION THIS AGREEMENT WOULD BE IN PLACE UNTIL THE FORMAL TRANSITION OF EVERYTHING TO THE LGC IN FISCAL YEAR 27. SO I'LL BE ANYTHING I WOULD DO WOULD ALWAYS BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COUNTY WHEN IT COMES TO THESE TRANSIT FUNDS. YEAH, THERE'S NO DOUBT THERE, JOHN. ESPECIALLY YOUR YOUR BACKGROUND AND YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THESE TRANSACTIONS, SIR, ARE VERY VALUABLE TO US. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER BUTLER, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. ISN'T COMING UP.

I THANK YOU. MOTION CARRIES. OKAY. ITEM 13 B, DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO SIGN THE INTERLOCAL, PUBLIC SERVICE, TRANSIT AND CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 WITH THE EL PASO AREA TRANSPORTATION

[B. Discuss and take appropriate action to authorize the County Judge to sign the Interlocal Public Service Transit and Contribution Agreement for Fiscal Year 2025 with the El Paso Area Transportation Services, LGC for fixed route, complementary paratransit, general public dial-a-ride, vanpool, commuter bus service to New Mexico and any other transportation solutions.  (Contract No. 2025-0598) John Andoh, Director, Transit Operations, 915-273-3838]

CONTRACT NUMBER 2025 00598. YES. COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS JOHN ANDO, DIRECTOR OF TRANSIT OPERATIONS. THIS ITEM WERE A BIT BEHIND IN PRESENTING THIS ITEM AND I SINCERELY APOLOGIZE.

[03:50:01]

WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER OLGUIN TO APPROVE. SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER BUTLER.

THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, THANK YOU JOHN. WE'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO THE ITEMS THAT WERE PULLED FROM CONSENT BY COMMISSIONER BUTLER. FIRST WE HAVE ITEM 4BF APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE SOLE SOURCE PURCHASE OF CLOUD LIBRARY SUBSCRIPTION FOR THE EL PASO COUNTY COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT FROM OCLC, INC. OF

[BF. Approve and authorize the Sole Source purchase of Cloud Library Subscription for El Paso County Community Services Department from OCLC, Inc. of Dublin, OH for a grand total of $425,000.00.  Funds are available in GF-DIGITALLIB-BOOKS&SUBSCRIP. Pursuant to Texas Local Government Code Section 262.024 (a)(7)(A), as a sole source item, it is exempt from the provisions of the County Purchasing Act. Sole Source will be re-evaluated at the time of the new contract to ensure compliance with statute. Karen Davidson, Purchasing Agent, Purchasing Department, 915-273-3349]

AND SO THAT'S REALLY THE THE REASON THAT I PULLED IT WAS SO THAT WE COULD HAVE A MORE COMPREHENSIVE DISCUSSION ABOUT IT BEFORE WE APPROVE THIS. AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE COULD BRING THIS BACK AFTER WE TALK ABOUT BUDGET BETSY OR WHAT YOU WOULD RECOMMEND. YES, MA'AM. WE CAN DEFINITELY READ THIS ITEM IN AFTER WE TALK ABOUT BUDGET. I DO WANT TO MENTION, PER THE COURT'S REQUEST, WE ARE GOING TO AFTER, OF COURSE, THIS YEAR'S AS WE'RE ADOPTING THIS YEAR FY 26 BUDGET. WE DO HAVE A PLAN BASED ON YOUR DIRECTION TO BRING BACK AND GO THROUGH EACH OF THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE COMPLETELY NON-MANDATED VOLUNTARY PROGRAMS WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT, WHAT DO THEY DO? HOW MANY PEOPLE DO THEY SERVE, WHAT ARE THE IMPACTS, AND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MAYBE INDIRECT IMPACTS AS WELL? WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES? BUT THAT'S GOING THROUGH ALL PROGRAMS. BUT IT WOULD INCLUDE THE DIGITAL LIBRARY AS WELL. AND WE'RE WE'RE SHOOTING TO BE ABLE TO GET START WORKING ON THAT AS SOON AS WE GET THROUGH BUDGET ADOPTION AND BRING THAT BACK TO THE COURT BEFORE WE GO INTO AS WE I THINK WHAT WE DISCUSSED IS HAVING IT ALL READY AND MAKING THAT ONE OF THE MAJOR DISCUSSION POINTS FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING. WERE THESE FUNDS ALREADY BUDGETED? THIS IS FROM OUR 2025 BUDGET, AND THESE FUNDS WERE ALREADY BUDGETED AS PART OF THAT BUDGET. LET ME DOUBLE CHECK AND SEE WHETHER THIS IS COMING OUT OF FY 25 OR FY 26. IRENE, DO YOU KNOW? THIS IS A NEW FISCAL? SORRY. IRENE

[03:55:04]

COMMISSIONER CORONADO, YOU'RE SAYING GO TO A ONE YEAR CONTRACT. COMMISSIONER STOUT SAYING AWARD THE FIVE YEARS WE HAVE AN OUT CLAUSE AND WE CAN GET OUT AT ANY POINT IN TIME WITHOUT HAVING TO, WITHOUT REDO THE ENTIRE WITHOUT HAVING TO REDO THIS. I'M GOOD WITH THE FIVE YEAR CONTRACT AS LONG AS WE HAVE AN OUT. OKAY, COMMISSIONER, I'M FINE WITH THAT AS WELL. BUT I DO AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER BUTLER THAT IT IT SEEMS THAT THIS ITEM REALLY SHOULD HAVE COME UP AFTER WE APPROVE THE 2026 BUDGET. THAT'S WHY I WAS CONFUSED AND THOUGHT MAYBE THIS WAS ALREADY IN THE 25 BUDGET, BECAUSE I JUST LOGICALLY SPEAKING, I THINK IT SHOULD HAVE COME UP AFTER WE APPROVED THE 26 BUDGET. IF THIS CONTRACT EXPIRES AT THE END OF THIS MONTH. AND SO WE WERE TRYING TO RENEW IT BEFORE IT EXPIRES. SO LET'S LET WHAT JESSICA OR CAESAR, IF WE CAN COME BACK TO THIS ITEM AFTER THE COURT ADOPTS THE BUDGET, AND THEN THAT WAY IT'S PROCEDURALLY CORRECT. THANK YOU. OKAY. WE CAN GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM THAT WAS PULLED FROM CONSENT. ITEM FOUR. B GRANT APPLICATION, APPROVE AND RATIFY THE SUBMISSION OF THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR. FY 26 OPERATION LONE STAR GRANT APPLICATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,500,000 FROM SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2025 TO AUGUST

[BX. GRANT APPLICATION - Approve and ratify the submission of the Office of the Governor FY26 Operation Lone Star grant application in the amount of $2,500,000 from September 1, 2025, to August 31, 2026. No County match required.  Further, approve and authorize the County Judge to sign the accompanying resolution. (Contract No. 2025-0728) Melissa Carrillo, Deputy County Administrator, County Operations, 915-273-3582]

[04:00:01]

HAVING HAVING BEEN DETAINED UNDER OPERATION LONE STAR. WE DID APPLY FOR THE MAX THAT WE COULD APPLY FOR WAS 5 MILLION. WE DID APPLY FOR ABOUT 4.7. BUT OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR CAME BACK AND THEY LIMITED US OR CAPPED US AT 2.5 MILLION. DO WE KNOW WHY THEY CAPPED US? THEY DIDN'T SAY. THEY JUST SAID THAT THE MOST WE COULD GET FROM THIS GRANT WAS THE 2.5. AND COMMISSIONERS MELISSA CARRILLO WITH COUNTY OPERATIONS. JUST SO YOU KNOW, WHEN WE ORIGINALLY APPLIED FOR THIS GRANT, WE DID SO IN MARCH. AND SO IN LOOKING AT IT IN PREPARATION FOR THIS ITEM, BECAUSE THIS IS A RATIFICATION OF THE APPLICATION ITSELF, WE WE NOTICED IN THE SUMMARY TAB OF THE ACTUAL GRANT APPLICATION SYSTEM WITH THE STATE. THAT'S WHERE HE WAS ABLE TO SEE COMMENTS MADE FROM A STATE REPRESENTATIVE SAYING CAP THIS AT 2.5. AND SO WE DO NEED TO GO BACK AND LOOK AND SEE WHY THEY'RE LIMITING. BUT WE UNDERSTAND BASED ON THAT NOTE, THEY MOST LIKELY, IF AWARDED, WILL AWARD IN A $2.5 MILLION INCREMENT VERSUS THE 4.7 WE ORIGINALLY ASKED FOR. PLUS WHAT HAPPENED IS THE STATE REDUCED ITS TEXAS OPERATION LONE STAR BUDGET SIGNIFICANTLY. YEAH. SO AFTER WHEN WHEN THE ORIGINALLY THEY HAD THE $5 MILLION LIMIT AND THEY HAD A MUCH HIGHER BUDGET THEMSELVES. THEN IN JUNE THEY REDUCED THE OPERATION LONE STAR BUDGET. AND SO I THINK THAT COULD ALSO BE TRICKLING DOWN TO WHY THEY'RE LOWERING THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT THAT YOU CAN APPLY FOR. BUT WE DO STILL, TO THIS DAY, I BELIEVE WE STILL HAVE. I CAN PULL UP THE REPORT, BUT I THINK WE STILL HAVE INDIVIDUALS BEING HELD UNDER OPERATION LONE STAR. I THINK IT'S 40, 40 SOMETHING PEOPLE, I BELIEVE. HAVE WE RECEIVED ANY FUNDS FROM OPERATION LONE STAR? WE'VE RECEIVED 2.7. WE RECEIVED 2.5 ON THE FY 25 GRANT. IT'S CURRENTLY GETTING READY TO END. WE DID HAVE MORE EXPENSES THAN THE 2.5. BUT AGAIN, THEY ALSO WE GOT CUT BACK ON THAT ONE AS WELL. BUT WE DID SPEND THE FULL 2.5 MILLION OKAY. AND THE STATE THE STATE CUT ITS BUDGET IN HALF. IT WAS 6.7 BILLION. AND NOW IT'S 3.4 BILLION. IT'S STILL A LOT OF MONEY. MY UNDERSTANDING, THOUGH, THAT WHEN WE GOT THE FIRST 2.5 MILLION FOR THIS BUDGET YEAR, THE LIMIT WAS 5 MILLION BACK THEN. YES, YES, FOR SURE. AND THEY STILL ONLY GAVE US TWO AND A HALF, RIGHT? CORRECT. BUT YOU SAID BILLION WITH A B WITH A B.

BUT THAT'S FOR BORDER SECURITY WHICH IS WHERE THEY'RE FUNDING OPERATION LONE STAR. LONE STAR.

YOU KNOW, WITH THIS, EXCEPT AFTER THE I THINK WE SHOULD DO A FOLLOW UP LETTER TO SENATOR CORNYN AND CRUZ REGARDING THEIR BILL, THAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE 11 BILLION, AGAIN, BASICALLY ASKING THEM TO PASS IT DOWN THROUGH THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE AFFECTED. IF THEY GET THAT FUNDING BACK FROM THIS, FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. AND I THINK YOU ALL SENT A LETTER ON THAT WE DID PREVIOUSLY. I'M JUST SAYING WE SHOULD DO A FOLLOW UP NOW STATING, Y'ALL CUT US ANOTHER 2.5 MILLION FROM WHAT THE MAT THE MAXIMUM WAS.

PLEASE TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION. DO WE HAVE ANYWHERE A LIST OF OF EXPENDITURES RELATED TO OPERATION LONE STAR? YES, MA'AM. DO WE KNOW WHAT THAT TOTAL IS? WE DO. IT'S WELL OVER. IT'S BETWEEN 20 TO $40 MILLION. I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER RIGHT AT THE MOMENT, BUT IT IS WELL OVER 20 TO. I THINK IT'S CLOSER TO $40 MILLION, NOT INCLUDING THIS YEAR. I THINK THAT'S AS OF AS OF RIGHT NOW, WE'RE AT CLOSE TO 40 MILLION.

40 MILLION. AND ALL WE'RE ASKING FOR IS 2.5 BECAUSE IT'S ALL WE CAN ASK FOR. WE ASKED FOR MORE, AND THEY BROUGHT US DOWN TO 2.5. AND JUST A REMINDER, THIS APPLICATION THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY IS FOR THE NEXT PERIOD, RIGHT. IT WAS DUE IN MARCH. AND THIS WOULD COVER EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER THROUGH OCTOBER THROUGH SEPTEMBER OF NEXT YEAR. SO WE WORK WITH JOEL BISHOP AND JACOB MILES AND THE DATA TEAM TO PROJECT AND AND PREDICT MODELS ON HOW MUCH WE WOULD BE ABLE TO SPEND, WHICH IS WHERE THAT 4.7 NUMBER CAME FROM. SO THIS GRANT APPLICATION IS FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR. THE CURRENT YEAR IS OPERATING UNDER THAT 2.5 THAT I

[04:05:01]

WE'RE KEEPING A RUNNING LIST. AND WE CAN SHARE THAT WITH THE COURT LATER. AND JUST I'M SORRY, THE GRANT ACTUALLY WOULD HAVE STARTED IN SEPTEMBER 1ST, BUT OG'S RUNNING A BIT BEHIND ON THE AWARDS. BUT IF ONCE THEY AWARD US, WE CAN GO BACK AND START BILLING AS OF SEPTEMBER 1ST. OKAY, OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU. OKAY. GOING TO ITEM 11, AUDITOR 11 A PURSUANT TO TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 114.023114.024114.025 AND 114.026 RECEIVED THE ATTACHED

[A. Pursuant to Texas Local Government Code § 114.023, 114.024, 114.025 and 114.026, receive the attached presentation and the interim financial report for the month ended July 2025. Barbara Parker, County Auditor, County Auditor's Office, 915-273-3262]

GOOD AFTERNOON. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS BARBARA PARKER, COUNTY AUDITOR, THIS IS THE INTERIM FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE MONTH OF JULY WITH THE NEW STANDARDS FOR GETTING INFORMATION TO YOU. THIS ONE'S LATE. WE HAD THE HOLIDAY TO. WE'RE HOPING THE ONE FOR AUGUST WILL BE ON THE LAST MEETING OF SEPTEMBER. IF NOT, IT'LL BE THE 1ST OF OCTOBER. THIS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY SHOWS THE REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES FOR FEDERAL FOR GENERAL FUND FOR THE CURRENT YEAR. PLEASE NOTE THAT THROUGHOUT THE PRESENTATION, AMOUNTS HAVE BEEN ROUNDED TO THOUSANDS. THIS IS THE CONDENSED FINANCIAL REPORT THAT WAS PUBLISHED IN A SUNDAY PAPER.

THIS SLIDE PRESENTS ALL OF THE REVENUE COLLECTED BY THE COUNTY BY FUND TYPE. THE FOCUS THROUGHOUT THE PRESENTATION IS MENTIONED IS ON THE GENERAL FUND, WHICH IS THE MAIN OPERATING FUND OF THE COUNTY. DURING THE CURRENT MONTH, JULY, THE GENERAL FUND COLLECTED APPROXIMATELY 19.4 MILLION. THE TOTAL YEAR TO DATE PROPERTY TAXES COLLECTED AS OF JULY INCREASED BY 10.4 MILLION COMPARED TO FISCAL YEAR 24. THE GENERAL FUND INCREASED BY 7.7 MILLION IN TOTAL FOR PROPERTY TAXES. YEAR TO DATE. GENERAL FUND REVENUES COMPARED TO THE SAME PERIOD LAST FISCAL YEAR ARE SHOWN ON THIS TABLE. THE TOTAL REVENUE COLLECTIONS HAVE DECREASED COMPARED TO THE SAME PERIOD OF LAST YEAR, THE TOP AREAS INCREASING WERE PROPERTY TAXES 7.7 MILLION, SALES AND USE TAX 1.9 MILLION, FINES AND FORFEITS 755,000. THE TOP AREAS DECREASING WERE INCREASED 3.6 MILLION. THIS IS DUE TO LOWER INVESTIBLE BALANCES AND LOWER RATES. OTHER FINANCING SOURCES DECREASED BY 1.5 MILLION. 2.5 MILLION WAS DUE TO FY 24 HEALTH AND LIFE TRANSFER. AND THEN WE HAD AN INCREASE IN TRANSFERRING FOR GRANT MATCH OF 867,000.

THAT WAS OFFSETTING INTERGOVERNMENTAL DECREASED BY 1.1 MILLION. THIS IS DUE TO A FEMA REIMBURSEMENT WE RECEIVED IN 2024. AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY REIMBURSEMENTS IN 220,000 2025 YET. THIS IS AN OVERVIEW OF THE ACTUAL REVENUE COMPARED TO BUDGET. AS OF JULY, 83.3% OF THE YEAR HAS BEEN EXPIRED. SO FAR THIS YEAR, GENERAL FUND IS COLLECTED 94.7% OF THE BUDGETED REVENUES, AND THIS ANALYSIS EXCLUDES THE $83 MILLION FOR DESIGNATED FUND BALANCE RESERVES. THIS IS A GRAPHICAL PRESENTATION OF YEAR TO DATE SHOWING THAT TAXES COMPRISED 88.8% OF THE REVENUES RECEIVED, 71% OF THOSE WERE PROPERTY TAXES. THIS SLIDE JUST SHOWS THE TREND OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS FOR REVENUES, AND THE TWO LARGEST REVENUE SOURCES FOR THE COUNTY, PROPERTY TAX AND SALES TAX. THE LINES ON THE CHART REPRESENT THE TOTAL REVENUES,

[04:10:01]

MOVING ON TO EXPENDITURES, THIS SLIDE SHOWS ALL THE EXPENDITURES FOR THE COUNTY BY FUND TYPE FOR THE MONTH OF JULY. THE GENERAL FUND RECORDED TOTAL EXPENDITURES OF 33.9 MILLION AND A YEAR TO DATE, TOTAL OF 319.3 MILLION. THIS CHART PROVIDES A PICTURE OF THE BUDGET AS A WHOLE, AND BREAKS DOWN EXPENDITURES BY FUNCTION OF GOVERNMENT. 71% OF THE BUDGET HAS BEEN EXPENDED, AND OF THAT PUBLIC SAFETY ACCOUNTED FOR 44%, GENERAL GOVERNMENT 27%, ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE 24% AND OTHER FUNCTIONS WERE 6%. THE TOTAL GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES BY FUNCTION ARE SHOWN ON THIS SLIDE. THE PERCENTAGE OF THE YEAR AS MENTIONED THAT'S EXPIRED IS 83.3%. THE PERCENTAGE OF THE BUDGET EXPENDED IS 70.7%. LAST YEAR, IT WAS 69.9%. THESE ARE THE GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES BY CATEGORY. GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES AS OF JULY INCREASED IN COMPARISON TO THE PRIOR YEAR, DECREASING IN CAPITAL OUTLAY AND TRANSFERS OUT NETTING WITH INCREASES IN PERSONNEL AND OPERATING FOR AN OVERALL INCREASE OF 2.2%. PERSONNEL INCREASES ARE PRIMARILY DUE TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE AMOUNT OF 11 MILLION. AS A RESULT OF INCREASES IN THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE INCREASED BY 898,000, WHILE GENERAL GOVERNMENT DECREASED BY 255,000 DUE TO TRANSFERS TO ARPA FOR COUNTY OPERATIONS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATION SALARIES.

OPERATING INCREASES ARE PRIMARILY DUE TO GENERAL GOVERNMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF 2.2 MILLION. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INCREASED BY 3.7 MILLION, BUT THAT INCREASE WAS OFFSET BY A DECREASE IN ELECTIONS OF 1.7 MILLION. ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE INCREASED BY 1.6 MILLION DUE TO INDIGENT DEFENSE AND CAPITAL MURDER COSTS, AND PUBLIC SAFETY DECREASED BY 635,000, PRIMARILY DUE TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. MEDICAL EXPENSES. CAPITAL DECREASE IS PRIMARILY DUE TO GENERAL GOVERNMENT PUBLIC WORKS NON-DEPARTMENTAL, FOR WHICH THERE WERE NO EXPENSES FOR FY 25 SUBMITTED YET TRANSFERS OUT DECREASED BY 11.1 MILLION, PRIMARILY DUE TO A DECREASE IN THE CIP TRANSFER OUT OF 10.4 MILLION IN 2024 VERSUS ONLY 1,000,000 IN 2025. THERE'S ALSO BEEN A DECREASE OF 864,000 IN PUBLIC WORKS. NON-DEPARTMENTAL GRANT MATCHES. THIS SLIDE SHOWS US THE GENERAL FUND CHANGES BY GOVERNMENT FUNCTION IN COMPARISON WITH THE SAME PERIOD THE PRIOR YEAR. THE TOP AREAS OF CHANGE ARE GENERAL GOVERNMENT, WHICH DECREASED BY 12.4 MILLION. THIS IS DUE TO TRANSFERS OUT THE ONE PENNY FOR CIP AND THE ROAD AND BRIDGE. PUBLIC SAFETY INCREASED BY 11.7 MILLION, OR 9.2%. ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE 2.1 MILLION 2.9%. RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT 713,000 OR 9.7%. EXCUSE ME. WHAT WAS THE 11.7 MILLION FROM PUBLIC SAFETY? MAINLY DUE TO THOSE INCREASES. A LOT OF IT IS DUE TO THE SALARIES, THE SALARY PLAN THAT WE HAVE WITH THAT CONTRACT. ALL RIGHT. THERE WAS ALSO A BIG PUSH DURING THAT TIME TO TO

[04:15:05]

[A. Pursuant to the Texas Local Government Code § 111.067, conduct a Public Hearing on the proposed El Paso County budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2025, and ending September 30, 2026. Melissa Carrillo, Deputy County Administrator, County Operations, 915-273-3582]

GOOD AFTERNOON. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS. I'M BETSY KELLER, EL PASO COUNTY CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR. TODAY, OUR TEAM WILL BE PRESENTING INFORMATION THAT SUMMARIZES THE DIRECTION THE COURT HAS PROVIDED AND THE WORK THAT OUR TEAM HAS DONE IN PREPARING THE OPERATING BUDGET FOR FY 2026. THIS PREPARATION BEGINS, OF COURSE, AS SOON AS YOU ADOPT THIS BUDGET, WE WILL ALREADY BE WORKING AND MEETING ON NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET PREPARATION. THIS BUDGET IS BASED ON THE COURT'S TAX POLICY AND STRATEGIC PLAN, AND THE OPERATIONS OF OUR INDEPENDENT, ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICES, DEPARTMENT HEADS AND MANY OTHERS WHO ARE COMMITTED TO SERVING OUR COMMUNITY. THE COUNTY'S BUDGET. YOU ALL HEAR ME TALK ABOUT THIS. WE LOOK AT IT AS A LOT MORE. IT'S NOT JUST THIS BOOK OF NUMBERS. IT TELLS OUR STORY, AND IT'S PART OF A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT REFLECTS OUR DEDICATION TO MEETING THE NEEDS OF OUR CITIZENS THAT WE SERVE. IT TELLS THE STORY OF HOW WE'RE STRONGER TOGETHER AND HOW WE ARE POWERED BY YOU, WITH YOU BEING THE COURT, OUR PARTNERS, OUR COUNTY FAMILY, AND OF COURSE, MOST SIGNIFICANTLY, OUR COMMUNITY. AND SO, TO BEGIN OUR PUBLIC HEARING PRESENTATION, I'D LIKE TO SHARE A VIDEO THAT OUR COMMUNICATIONS AND COUNTY ADMIN TEAM WORKED ON TOGETHER THAT CAPTURES SOME OF OUR ACTIVITIES FOR THIS PAST YEAR THAT ARE MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH OUR FINANCIAL PLANNING TEAM. WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ROLL THE VIDEO, PLEASE?

[04:22:20]

THANK YOU TO THE TEAM AND THANK YOU TO THE COURT FOR THE LEADERSHIP. SO I USE THE VIDEO TO LOOK BACK TO REMIND US WHAT THE BUDGET DOES GOING FORWARD THESE PAST 12, 12 MONTHS. COMMISSIONERS COURT, THE COUNTY TEAM HAVE BEEN WORKING AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF ACTION AND ACTIVITIES FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR ORGANIZATION. AND WHEN I SAY THAT VIDEO CAPTURES SOME OF OUR ACTIVITIES THIS YEAR, IT TRULY IS A GLIMPSE OF WHAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED. THE NEXT FEW SLIDES LIST MANY ADDITIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS WE'VE HAD IN THE LAST YEAR. I'M NOT GOING TO READ THE ITEMS BECAUSE THERE'S OVER 13. I THINK THERE'S ANOTHER TEN SLIDES THAT JUST LIST ACCOMPLISHMENTS, BUT I'M GOING TO PAUSE AND JUST GIVE EVERYONE A FEW SECONDS TO LOOK AT THEM. AND SO THE PUBLIC CAN SEE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON OVER THIS PAST FY 25 YEAR.

THIS IS ONLY POSSIBLE WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT COMMISSIONERS COURT, AND IT'S OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS, ELECTED OFFICIALS AND TEAM MEMBERS THAT MAKE THIS POSSIBLE.

THEY ARE REMARKABLE. THEY'RE ALL REMARKABLE PUBLIC SERVANTS, AND WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DO TO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE. SO WE OFTEN LOOK AT OUR DOLLAR FROM A TAXES PAID TO VARIOUS ENTITIES, ENTITIES PERSPECTIVE. BUT TODAY WE'RE SHOWING WHERE THE COUNTY'S GENERAL FUND DOLLAR GOES. THERE ARE OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDING SOURCES INTO THESE

[04:25:03]

COMMISSIONERS, THIS SECTION OF THE PRESENTATION, I WILL TALK ABOUT THE FISCAL YEAR 25 PROJECTED ACTUALS AND THE FISCAL YEAR 26 CERTIFIED REVENUES AND SOME COMPARISONS FOR THE DIFFERENT REVENUES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE FY 25 PROJECTED ACTUALS VERSUS THE FY 26 CERTIFIED REVENUES. GENERAL FUND SHOWS AN INCREASE OF $19 MILLION. THE INCREASE IN COSTS THAT'S OUR DEBT SERVICE FUND IS DUE TO PROPERTY TAXES THAT ARE ALLOCATED FOR DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS, PRIMARILY FOR THE FOR THE 2025 GEO AND CO OBLIGATIONS.

DETAILS FOR GENERAL FUND AND SPECIAL REVENUE ARE ON THE FOLLOWING SLIDES. THE PROJECTED FISCAL YEAR 25 ACTUALS AGAINST THE FY 26 CERTIFIED REVENUES ARE SHOWN ON THIS SLIDE.

UNFAVORABLE VARIANCES OF 11 MILLION ARE PRIMARILY DUE TO CHARGES FOR SERVICES OF 4.2 MILLION. THIS IS PRIMARILY DUE TO THE FEDERAL PRISONERS, WHICH IS A DECREASE OF $4.1 MILLION.

INTERGOVERNMENTAL IS 4.6 MILLION, PRIMARILY DUE TO NOT BUDGETING FOR THE OLS REIMBURSEMENT. THE DISABLED VETERANS RELIEF PAYMENT, AND THE CLINT ISD CONTRACT NOT BEING REVIEWED. RENEWED INTEREST IS DOWN 1.2 MILLION. WE EXPECT TO SEE A DECLINE CONTINUE IN THE RATES AS WELL AS ON THE SPEND DOWN, BECAUSE WE'RE SPENDING DOWN THE LAST OF OUR ARPA FUNDS DURING MOST OF 2026. THE FAVORABLE VARIANCES 30.9 MILLION, PRIMARILY DUE TO PROPERTY TAXES, 2720 9.7 MILLION USING CERTIFIED VALUES IN JULY, WITH THE APPROVED TAX RATE FOR FY 26 SALES AND USE TAX OF 1.2 MILLION. THIS IS USING THE CURRENT TREND. THIS

[04:30:07]

FAVORABLE VARIANCES ARE $16,000, PRIMARILY DUE TO FINES AND FORFEITURES, UNFAVORABLE VARIANCES TOTAL 9.1 MILLION, AND THIS IS DUE TO INTERGOVERNMENTAL 4.6 MILLION.

THIS IS NON BUDGETED REVENUES OF $3 MILLION FOR ELECTIONS. NON COUNTY CHARGES FOR SEVEN FOR SERVICES IS 3.8 MILLION, DOWN DUE TO BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD HR. INCENTIVES THAT WERE RECEIVED IN FISCAL YEAR 25. THAT WAS A ONE TIME PAYMENT AND INTEREST OF 445,000. DUE TO LOWER RATES AND BALANCES. THIS IS LOOKING AT OUR GENERAL FUND PROJECTIONS. FISCAL YEAR 24 GENERAL FUND BALANCE ENDED AT 96.2 MILLION. THE FY 25 PROJECTIONS AS OF JULY. WE LOOKED AT REVENUES OF 395.7 MILLION, AND EXPENDITURES WERE PROJECTED AT 406.8 MILLION.

THAT GIVES US A NET OF -11.1 MILLION, WHICH GIVES US AN FY 25 PRELIMINARY PROJECTED FUND BALANCE OF 85.1 MILLION. IN THIS PARTICULAR VIEW OF THE FUND BALANCE, YOU'LL SEE IT'S DIFFERENT FROM WHAT I PRESENTED FOR JULY BECAUSE IT HAS THE THE APPROVED TAX RATE IN IT. SO AS DISCUSSED ON THE PRIOR SLIDE, FISCAL YEAR 25 SHOWS THE GENERAL FUND BALANCE AT APPROXIMATELY 85.1 MILLION, WHICH IS ROUNDED TO 85 ON THE SLIDE FOR FY 25. PROJECTED FUND BALANCE IS BASED ON THE PROJECTED REVENUES THAT WE SPOKE ABOUT, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 12.8% COMPARED TO THE PRIOR YEAR AND FY 25 PROJECTED EXPENDITURES IS AN INCREASE OF 39.6 MILLION, OR 11%, FROM THE PRIOR YEAR. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE REVENUES AND EXPENSES IS MENTIONED ON THE PRIOR SLIDE IS 11.1 MILLION. THE FINANCIAL PROJECTION FOR FY 26 INCLUDES CERTIFIED REVENUES WITH THE EXPENDITURE TRENDS AND KNOWN EXPECTATIONS REGARDING SPENDING, BUT BEYOND 26, THERE ARE MANY UNKNOWN VARIABLES. SO ONCE AGAIN, IT'S NOT ADVISABLE TO PUT A LOT OF RELIANCE ON THOSE PROJECTIONS AS REVENUE STREAMS MAY CHANGE IN FUTURE.

LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS COULD IMPACT COUNTIES. AS MISS KELLER PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED IN HER OPENING COMMENTS ON THE FINANCIAL HEALTH OF THE COUNTY FUND, BALANCE PLAYS AN IMPORTANT PART ON HOW EXTERNAL AGENCIES PRESERVE, PERCEIVE AND RATE THE FINANCIAL HEALTH OF THE COUNTY. I'LL NOW TURN THE PRESENTATION OVER TO MELISSA CARRILLO, DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR FOR BUDGET INFORMATION. GOOD AFTERNOON. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS MELISSA, WITH COUNTY OPERATIONS. SO WE'RE GOING TO GET READY TO ENTER INTO THE FINAL PORTION WHERE WE COVER THE BUDGET SUMMARY AND THE TAX RATE HISTORY. AND JUST AS WE GO INTO THIS SECTION, A REMINDER, OF COURSE, WE'VE HAD OUR WE HAD OUR CHALLENGES AS WE PREPARED THIS BUDGET. BUT VERY PLEASED TO SHARE WITH YOU BASED ON THE DIRECTION YOU AND YOUR CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR HAVE GIVEN US, WHAT OUR TEAM HAS PRESENTED FOR FY 26. THE NEXT SECTION WILL COVER. IT WILL START WITH THE UNFUNDED MANDATES THAT THIS COURT HAS BEEN MADE AWARE OF AND HAS CONSISTENTLY SPOKEN ABOUT. IT WILL ALSO COVER THE MAJOR BUDGET IMPACTS, ANTICIPATED FUTURE IMPACTS, GIVEN WHAT WE WERE NOT ABLE TO PUT IN FY 26 BUDGET, AND THEN IT WILL CLOSE WITH OUR TAX RATE SUMMARY AND WHERE WE STAND TODAY AS WE MOVE INTO FY 26. SO WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO OUR TEAM, GABBY FERRELL AND JESSICA GARZA. GABBY. GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, GABBY FERRERO WITH THE BUDGET AND FINANCE DEPARTMENT, AS YOU MENTIONED, WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND START WITH THE MANDATED NON-MANDATED TABLE. THIS SLIDE ILLUSTRATES THE ALLOCATION OF THE GENERAL FUNDS IN OUR BUDGET TO MANDATED SERVICE AND NECESSARY SUPPORT. WE CALCULATE THAT ABOUT 53% OF OUR BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 26 IS ATTRIBUTED TO, EXCUSE ME TO THESE MANDATED SERVICES. THIS IS A 3% INCREASE FROM LAST YEAR. HOWEVER, PLEASE NOTE THAT LAST YEAR FOR FISCAL YEAR 25, WE WERE ABLE TO REDUCE TO ABOUT 50% DUE TO SOME DEFERRING COSTS AND HOLDING, SOME DEFERRING

[04:35:03]

[04:40:07]

THIS IS AN UPDATED DOLLAR SIGN HAS BEEN MENTIONED EARLIER. THIS IS HOW YOU'RE USED TO SEEING IT AS COMPARED TO OTHER ENTITIES. ON THE BOTTOM ROW, YOU'LL SEE THE TAX RATE BREAKDOWN AMONG OTHER MAJOR ENTITIES IN THE COUNTY. AND EL PASO COUNTY'S TAX RATE IS AT 17%, WHICH IS ABOUT THE SAME RATIO AS IT WAS IN 2024 WHEN WE WERE AT THE SIMILAR TAX RATE.

THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2026 ALL FUNDS BUDGET TOTAL IS 635.6 MILLION. THIS IS AN 8% DECREASE FROM OUR FY 25 ADOPTED BUDGET ONE YEAR AGO. AS A MATTER OF INFORMATION, THE DIFFERENCE IN REVENUE THAT WAS GENERATED FROM THE ADOPTED TAX RATE INCREASED OUR TOTAL TOTAL FUND BALANCE.

AND BASED ON OUR POLICY, 90% OF THIS NUMBER GOES TOWARDS EMERGENCY RESERVES IN THE BUDGET. IN FY 25, THAT NUMBER WAS 20.6 MILLION. AND FOR FY 26, THAT NUMBER IS NOW 47 MILLION.

AS A REMINDER, THIS FUNDING DOES NOT GET USED AND IS ONLY CONSIDERED IF THE COUNTY HAS TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY BY CATEGORY. 51% OF OUR BUDGET IS FOR PERSONNEL EXPENDITURES, 44% IS FOR OPERATING EXPENDITURES, 2% IS FOR CAPITAL EXPENDITURES, AND 3% IS FOR TRANSFER OUTS.

TRANSFER OUTS IS THE CATEGORY WHERE WE PLACE ALL OUR GRANT MATCHES IN, AS WELL AS TRANSFERRING FROM FROM ONE DEPARTMENT OR ONE DIVISION INTO ANOTHER DIVISION. THE BUDGETS BY FUND TYPES ARE AS FOLLOWS. GENERAL FUND AT 495.4 MILLION. SPECIAL REVENUE AT 76.7 MILLION.

DEBT SERVICE AT 46.4 MILLION. ENTERPRISE AT 6.1 MILLION, AND TOTAL CAPITAL PROJECTS AT 10.7 MILLION. THIS IS A GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION OF OUR FY 26 BUDGET, WITH THE NUMBERS THAT I JUST REVIEWED. WHEN LOOKING AT EACH OF OUR COUNTY FUNDS, OUR GENERAL FUND AGAIN MAKES UP 77% OF THE TOTAL BUDGET, FOLLOWED BY SPECIAL REVENUE, THEN DEBT SERVICE AND CAPITAL PROJECTS.

AS A REMINDER, WE DON'T BUDGET GRANTS AS PART OF OUR BUDGET ADOPTION. WHILE GRANTS PLAY AN INTEGRAL ROLE IN DEFERRING OUR COST, THEY ARE NOT RECOGNIZED UNTIL AWARDED AND INCLUDED IN OUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. YOU HEARD FROM BETSY EARLIER HOW FUNDS ARE BROKEN DOWN BY STRATEGIC GOAL. THIS SLIDE HIGHLIGHTS HOW OUR GENERAL FUND IS BROKEN OUT BY PROGRAM.

PUBLIC SAFETY IS OUR LARGEST PROGRAM AT 33.8% OF THE BUDGET, AND INCLUDES OUR COSTS FOR SHERIFF CONSTABLES AND THE DETENTION FACILITIES. GENERAL GOVERNMENT MAKES UP OUR NEXT HIGHEST PROGRAM AT 26.8%. THIS PROGRAM IS WHERE WE HOLD OUR RESERVE AND CONTINGENCY ACCOUNT, AS WELL AS THE FUNDING FOR OUR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING INCREASE. ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE MAKES UP 19.4% AND INCLUDES COSTS FOR OUR COURTS AND SUPPORT DEPARTMENTS. THE THE APPROPRIATED UNALLOCATED FUND BALANCE IS AT 9.39%. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE 10% THAT IS UNBUDGETED THE TOTAL PERCENT OF OUR OF OUR UNALLOCATED FUND BALANCE IS 11.53%. AND IN CLOSING, ONCE AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE COUNTY DEPARTMENTS FOR ALL OF THEIR COLLABORATION, COUNTY ADMINISTRATION FOR THEIR GUIDANCE, AND TO COMMISSIONERS AND COUNTY JUDGE FOR YOUR GUIDANCE IN PREPARING THIS FY 26 BUDGET. UNLESS THE COURT HAS ANY QUESTIONS, THE MOTION BEING REQUESTED BY THE COURT AFTER WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING IS TO APPROVE AND ADOPT THE ATTACHED EL PASO COUNTY ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2025 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2026. I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. SPECIFIC BUDGET QUESTIONS.

THAT'S OKAY. ONE OF THE PRIMARY QUESTIONS I HAD AND I WAS NOTICING AS I WAS LOOKING THROUGH THE BUDGET BOOK, IS THAT IN A LOT OF CASES ACROSS DEPARTMENTS, WE'RE BUDGETING

[04:45:03]

THANK YOU. ONE OF ONE AREA WHERE I SAW A PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES IN OUR CONSTABLE'S BUDGETS. WAS THERE A SPECIFIC REASON WHY OUR CONSTABLE'S BUDGETS ARE INCREASING? I THINK ACROSS THE BOARD, ABOUT 18%. THIS WILL BE THE FIRST YEAR THAT THEY'LL HAVE A FULL BUDGET WHERE THEY'VE ABSORBED THE POSITIONS THAT PREVIOUSLY, THE POSITIONS AND EXPENSES THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY COVERED UNDER ARPA. OKAY, THAT'S A GOOD SEGUE TO MY NEXT QUESTION, WHICH IS ABOUT THE ARPA ABSORPTION. SO YOU MENTIONED IT BRIEFLY IN THE PRESENTATION, BUT IS THERE CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND HOW MUCH THAT'S COSTING US THIS NEXT FISCAL YEAR? THE TOTAL IMPACT OF ARPA, WE WE WON'T KNOW THAT UNTIL THE PROGRAM START TO CLOSE OUT IN DECEMBER. SO WE WE ESTIMATE BY JANUARY, FEBRUARY, WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT THE FULL PICTURE IS OF WHAT THE ARPA IMPACT WILL BE IN 26.

ASIDE FROM THE PERSONNEL AND FRINGE THAT WE CAN CALCULATE AT THIS POINT IN TIME, SO 25% OF THE COST, WE'RE ABLE, WELL, WE COULD ACTUALLY EVEN GO LONGER, BUT WE ONLY PROJECTED IN ARPA.

WE ONLY RESERVED MONEY IN ARPA FOR THE FIRST 25% OF THIS YEAR THROUGH DECEMBER. SO WE'RE GOING TO BE PAYING A PORTION OF THOSE COSTS THROUGH ARPA STILL. AND THEN WE HAVE 75% OF THE COST GENERALLY BUDGETED IN GENERAL OR IN THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET STARTING JANUARY, THAT BECAUSE IT'S 75% OF THE YEAR. SO THEN WE COULD ANTICIPATE NEXT FISCAL YEAR ABSORBING THE REST OF THAT. THE 25% MORE. YES, MA'AM. YES. OKAY. SO I BELIEVE WE'VE TRANSFERRED ALL BUT MAYBE THREE POSITIONS INTO THE GENERAL FUND ALREADY. WE HAVE SEVERAL PROGRAMS THAT WILL NOT END UNTIL 1231. AND WE SOME OF THEM THAT ARE CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMS WILL NEED TO SEE HOW I THINK THOSE ACTUALLY THEY GIVE US A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME. IS THAT CORRECT? LIKE THE INFRASTRUCTURE ONES? I THINK WE HAVE TO WE HAVE UNTIL 2026, END OF 2026. BUT WE DO HAVE ITEMS THAT THE COURT STARTED ADOPTING IN 2024. SOME OF THE LIKE SOME OF THE POSITIONS FROM THAT POINT IN TIME WHERE WE ARE NOW MOVING 75% OF THOSE COSTS INTO GENERAL FUND BUDGET. OKAY, THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAVE FOR NOW. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? JESSICA? I'M SORRY, WHAT WAS THE PERCENTAGE OF OUR RESERVES AMOUNT THAT YOU GAVE US DURING YOUR PRESENTATION? SO WHAT WE'VE BUDGETED AT THE 90% GIVES US A 9.39%, BUT THE TOTAL, INCLUDING THE 10%, THAT'S

[04:50:03]

AS JESSICA MENTIONED RIGHT NOW, IT'S LOOKING LIKE SLIGHTLY OVER 11%, BUT IT IS GOING TO GO DOWN FOR FY 27 BECAUSE THOSE ONE TIME INFUSIONS WON'T BE HERE. SO I'M URGING US TO STILL BE EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS AND CAREFUL ABOUT ADDING ANY EXPENSES IN BECAUSE IN MY OPINION, WE DON'T TRULY HAVE AN 11%. LIKE I DON'T VIEW THIS AS AN 11% FUND BALANCE, THAT IT'S A IT'S GOING TO BE AN AVERAGED OUT FUND BALANCE BETWEEN FY 26 AND FY 27 OF PROBABLY CLOSER TO 8 TO 9% BY THE TIME WE LOSE THESE ONE TIME INFUSIONS THAT WE GOT THIS YEAR. SO THE SLIDE THAT WAS JUST BROUGHT UP. WE'RE NOT DOING WE ARE DOING THESE ARE THESE ARE THINGS WE ANTICIPATE FOR FUTURE BUDGET, FUTURE BUDGETS. SO WE'RE WE'RE NOT RESTORING ANY OF THE ECONOMIC IMPACT FUND BECAUSE WE'RE WE'VE DECIDED TO TAKE ALL THE ADDITIONAL TAX REVENUE FROM THE TAX INCREASE AND JUST PUT IT INTO RESERVES TO GET TO THAT 11%. RIGHT. AND BECAUSE AGAIN, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THINGS THAT ARE IN FUND BALANCE THIS YEAR OR REVENUES OR DECREASES IN EXPENSES THAT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE NEXT YEAR. AND AND SO YOU'RE AT 11% NOW. BUT UNLESS THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE THAT SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGES EITHER IN REVENUE OR REDUCTION IN EXPENSE, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE AT 11% NEXT YEAR BECAUSE THERE'S MONEY THAT WE INFUSED IN THIS YEAR OR THINGS THAT WE PUT IN THIS YEAR, AND THE REVENUE SIDE, OR DECREASE IN THE EXPENSE SIDE THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE NEXT YEAR. AND AND THAT 11% IS UNALLOCATED FUND BALANCE. THAT IS WHAT WE CALL ALLOCATED. WHAT DO WE CALL IT? UNASSIGNED.

UNASSIGNED. NO, IT'S ALLOCATED BUT UNASSIGNED. NO. IT'S OUR ALLOCATED FUND BALANCE. THERE IS A 10% THAT WE USUALLY BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT FUND BALANCE IS GOING TO END AT. SO WE ALWAYS HAVE A PERCENTAGE THAT WE DON'T BUDGET APPROPRIATED UNALLOCATED FUND BALANCE. THAT'S THE 90% THAT'S IN THE BUDGET. THAT'S 9.39%. AND THAT WAS I'M SORRY, APPROPRIATE APPROPRIATED UNALLOCATED FUND BALANCE. ARE WE NOT. ARE WE TAKING ANYTHING OUT OF OUR FUND BALANCE THIS YEAR TO BALANCE THE BUDGET? YES, YES. HOW MUCH? OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. 36, 36 TO TO TRULY BALANCE OR JUST TO. SO SO SO WE WE'RE WE PROPOSE WE PROPOSE A BUDGET. SINCE I'VE BEEN AROUND, WE USUALLY COME IN 10 TO 15% UNDER WHAT WE ACTUALLY WHETHER REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES TAKING INTO ACCOUNT BOTH OUR BUDGET USUALLY ENDS UP COMING BETWEEN 10 AND 15% UNDER WHAT WE EXPENSED. WE PROPOSED BUDGETED. AND SO THAT LEFTOVER FUND BALANCE GOES TO FUND BALANCE. AND THEN WE START THE YEAR WITH THAT. THE NEXT THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR WITH THAT AMOUNT IN THE FUND BALANCE. BUT IT STILL GETS RE-APPROPRIATED TO. AND THE POINT HERE IS THAT AS UNFUNDED MANDATES CONTINUE TO GROW AND AS AND IF WE AND IF WE CONTINUE TO INCREASE, FOR EXAMPLE, SALARIES AND BENEFITS AND SUCH FOR WHETHER IT'S LAW ENFORCEMENT, WHETHER IT'S FOR OTHER PERSONNEL THAT THAT AMOUNT THAT CAN BE. OR THAT AMOUNT THAT THAT COMES ROLLS BACK INTO OUR FUND BALANCE AT THE END OF THE YEAR, IS IS GOING TO SHRINK. CORRECT. AND THE FACT THAT WE ARE TIGHTENING OUR BUDGETS. SO WE HAVE CONTINUE THE LAST TWO YEARS WE HAVE REDUCED WE HAVE WORKED TO REDUCE OUR BUDGETS SIGNIFICANTLY, THE EXPENSE BUDGET. SO WHAT HAPPENS IS, YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE IF I SAY I HAVE $1,000 FOR CAR MAINTENANCE THIS YEAR AND I ONLY SPEND 700, I END UP WITH 30% LEFT TO ROLL OVER INTO FUND BALANCE. BUT IF I TAKE THAT $1,000 AND I SAY, WELL, I HAVEN'T NEEDED IT, I'M

[04:55:07]

AND THE BUDGET I THINK WAS 400. AND HOW MUCH WAS IT, JESSICA? 400 AND. 495 495. SO IT'S ABOUT $8 MILLION. WENT OUT. SO THEIR PROJECTED FUND BALANCE IS AN 85.1 MILLION AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FISCAL YEAR. THAT'S THE THAT'S THE AMOUNT THAT WE'LL HAVE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE OF THE 2026 FISCAL YEAR IS 85.1 MILLION. THAT'S THAT'S THE AUDITOR'S PROJECTION. OKAY. BUT HOW MUCH OF THAT IS ACTUALLY BEING PUT INTO THE 2026 BUDGET? GIVE ME ONE SECOND. SO HOW MUCH OF THAT IS BEING USED TO BALANCE THE BUDGET BASICALLY? WELL, MELISSA'S LETTER SAYS WE ARE PROJECTING THE USE OF 32.9 MILLION FROM OUR FUND BALANCE. IS THAT THE NUMBER? YEAH, THAT'S THE CORRECT NUMBER, 32.9 MILLION. WHAT IS IT, 32.9. AND THAT'S THAT'S BASED ON US SPENDING EVERY BUDGETED DOLLAR. RIGHT. RIGHT. AND I THINK MISS PARKER EARLIER GAVE A PERCENTAGE OF WHERE WE WERE AT THIS YEAR. AND IT WAS LESS THAN WHAT WE NORMALLY SEE WAS THAT 9% WERE AT 9%. SO THIS YEAR WE'RE LOOKING AT ONLY HAVING 9% UNSPENT. BUT THAT INCLUDES THE FUND BALANCE. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PERCENTAGE. WELL, THAT'S WHERE WE ARE FOR THIS YEAR. BUT IT'S NOT WHERE WE'LL BE FOR FY 26 BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE AN FY 26. I DIDN'T HEAR THAT LAST PART. I'M SORRY. SO SHE SHE'S SHE'S ESTIMATING THAT WE'LL CLOSE FY 25 WITH 9% LEFT UNSPENT OF THE BUDGET. SO SO WHEREAS IN YEARS PAST WE WERE BETWEEN 12 AND 15%. THIS YEAR WILL BE AROUND NINE. RIGHT. BUT SHE DOESN'T HAVE A PROJECTION YET FOR 2026 UNTIL WE GET THE BUDGET FINALIZED. BUT WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WE HAVEN'T HAD WHERE WE HAVEN'T SPENT THE ENTIRE AMOUNT OF THE BUDGET. NO, WE'VE NEVER I MEAN, WE ALWAYS BUDGETED VERY CONSERVATIVELY. OUR REVENUES USUALLY COME IN OVER WHAT WE WHAT WE'VE PROJECTED IN OUR EXPENDITURES COME IN BELOW WHAT WE PROJECTED. BUT. NOT IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, BECAUSE WE HAVE $40 MILLION WE SPENT ON OPERATION LONE STAR STUFF. AND WE STILL WE STILL WERE ABLE TO TO COVER THAT. WE TOOK IT FROM FUND BALANCE. WELL, ALSO OUR

[05:00:03]

YEAH, BECAUSE I'VE JUST SEEN OUR FUND BALANCE KEEP GOING LOWER AND LOWER EVERY SINGLE YEAR. RIGHT. AND IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO WHAT WE KEEP SAYING. WE CANNOT ADD EXPENSES WITHOUT EITHER REDUCING OTHER EXPENSES OR INCREASING REVENUES. SO WE WE EITHER HAVE TO. MAKE SURE IF WE'RE GOING TO ADD ANY KIND OF EXPENSE TO OUR BUDGET, THERE HAS TO BE AN OFFSETTING DECREASE IN EXPENSE, OR THERE HAS TO BE AN INCREASE IN REVENUE. AND THAT IS SOMETHING WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT WE'RE COMMITTED TO EVERY WEEK SHOWING THE COURT THIS IS WHAT YOU'VE ACTED ON THAT HAS AN IMPACT. AND SOMETIMES IT'S NOT EVEN THINGS THAT YOU ALL NECESSARILY ACT ON. BUT LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, IMPLEMENTING SOME OF THE LEGISLATION THAT'S PASSED, IT IS GOING THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT, LIKE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE JAIL BED DAYS OR THERE THERE MAY BE MORE OPERATIONAL COSTS IN SOME CASES. AND THOSE THINGS HAVE TO HAVE EITHER A REVENUE OR A DECREASE. JUST AS THE DISCUSSION WAS WHEN WE WERE TALKING THE LEGISLATIVE ITEM. I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THE INTENT IS TO BANKRUPT THAT, BANKRUPT US OR TAKE AWAY OUR ABILITY TO DO ANYTHING THAT THE COURT SEES IS A GOOD POLICY FOR OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO USE THOSE FUNDS FOR THE THINGS WE'RE MANDATED TO DO.

BUT THAT'S THAT'S AND THE OTHER THE OTHER BIG IMPACT THAT WE'VE HAD FOR YEARS, UNTIL A COUPLE YEARS AGO, FOR YEARS, WE EVEN STILL BUDGETED CONSERVATIVELY OUR REVENUE FOR FEDERAL INMATES.

SO EVEN WHEN WE WERE HAVING THE BEST YEARS OF REVENUE FROM FEDERAL REVENUE, FEDERAL INMATES, WE HAD ALWAYS UNDERESTIMATED HOW MUCH REVENUE WE WERE GOING TO GET THAT YEAR.

SO THAT ALWAYS PRODUCED A REVENUE ABOVE BUDGET. AND OUR EXPENSES WERE HOLDING THE LINE PRETTY WELL. SO THAT ALWAYS ENDED UP WITH A POSITIVE. SO WE WOULD SEE THIS CHART AND I'VE I'VE PULLED THIS CHART FOR FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS OF THIS CHART, WE WERE ALMOST ALWAYS THEY WOULD PROJECT THAT WE WERE GOING TO LOWER OUR FUND BALANCE. AND EVERY YEAR WE'D COME BACK IN BETTER, BETTER, BETTER. BUT A LOT OF THAT WAS FEDERAL REVENUE AND SALES TAX. BOTH OF THOSE THINGS ARE NO LONGER SO. COMMISSIONER CORONADO, IF YOU LOOK AT THE AT THE GRAPH IN 2022, WE WERE AT 116 MILLION. THEN WE WENT TO 98 TO 90 6 TO 85. SO WE ARE DECREASING. WE ARE SPENDING OUR FUND BALANCE. YEAH WE'RE WE'RE SPENDING IT. WHICH MEANS TO ME, YOU KNOW, REGARDLESS OF WHERE THOSE EXPENSES COME UP, WHETHER IT'S PART OF THE BUDGETED OR NOT OR WE WE HAVE OVERAGE IN SOME OVERALL IT'S DECREASING PERIOD. AND SO TO THAT EFFECT. YOU KNOW EVERY TIME LIKE COMMISSIONER MENTIONED THE STATE. YOU KNOW HAS US DO MORE FUNDS SPENT ON STUFF THEY WANT US TO DO. AND THEN THEY DON'T GIVE US THE LEVERAGE TO, YOU KNOW, FOR EVEN INFLATION OR FOR ADDITIONAL COST TO PROVIDE THOSE OTHER SERVICES. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CUT. SO IT'S ALMOST LIKE THEY'RE SAYING, WE JUST WANT YOU TO PROVIDE WHAT WE'RE MANDATING YOU TO PROVIDE, BUT THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE PATROLLING. IT DOESN'T INCLUDE A LOT OF WATER ISSUES. PERKS, NEW PARKS. PARKS, PARKS. IT DOESN'T INCLUDE COMMUNITY SERVICES, COMMUNITY SERVICES, BUDGET, LIBRARY. YOU KNOW, WE JUST WE JUST HAD WELCOMING WELCOMING WEEK RESOLUTION WATERS YOU KNOW ALL ALL OF THE POSITIONS IN THAT IN YOU KNOW, IN OUR OFFICE OF NEW AMERICANS AND OUR COMMUNITY SERVICES ARE NOT ARE NOT STATE MANDATED PARKS SENIOR NUTRITION PROGRAM VETERAN. SOME VETERAN SERVICES ROADS. IT'S ALMOST LIKE THEY'RE TELLING US THAT WE DON'T WANT YOU TO DO ALL THESE OTHER THINGS THAT THE COMMUNITY REALLY WANTS. RIGHT? WHICH PUTS US IN A QUANDARY. SO, BARBARA, WE'RE EXPECTING AN $11 MILLION DECREASE IN OUR FUND

[05:05:03]

COME TO THE MIC SO WE CAN MAYBE BORROW SOMEBODY ELSE'S. OKAY. THIS PARTICULAR SLIDE IS THE ONE THAT WAS PREPARED FOR THIS PRESENTATION. AND IT HAS BEEN ADJUSTED FOR THE NEW TAX RATE.

BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN ADJUSTED FOR THE NEW BUDGET. IT'S STILL BASED ON WHATEVER OUR PROJECTION WAS FOR THE BUDGET. BUT THE BUDGET PROJECTION SHOULDN'T HAVE CHANGED THAT MUCH. IT'S BASED ON WHAT OUR PROJECTION WAS BASED ON GOING UP THROUGH JULY OF 2025. IT'S NOT REFLECTING ANY OF THE BUDGET THAT YOU'RE VOTING ON RIGHT NOW. SO WHEN CAN WE BUDGET? WE WERE LOOKING AT WAS 406 MILLION. AND WE'RE ON THIS PROJECTION. BUT NOW WE'RE AT IN THE IN THE AMOUNT THAT WE'RE POISED TO APPROVE IN OUR BUDGET RIGHT NOW IS WHAT'S THE TOTAL.

495 495 FOR GENERAL FUND. SO IF I USE THEIR NUMBER, THE NEXT TIME YOU SEE MY PROJECTIONS FOR AUGUST AND I USE THAT NUMBER, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IT GO DOWN. BUT LIKE BETSY SAID, THERE ARE THINGS THAT HAPPEN DURING THE YEAR LIKE I'M NOT INCLUDING WELL, MAYBE I WILL BE INCLUDING THE 4 MILLION FOR THE BENEFITS BECAUSE THAT WILL BE ON THE EXPENSE SIDE. BUT I'M NOT INCLUDING THE OLS FUNDS. I'M NOT INCLUDING IF WE GET ANYTHING FOR THE DISABLED, VETERANS, ALL OF THOSE THINGS, THEY'RE NOT FOR CERTAIN. SO I DON'T CERTIFY THEM. AND MY REVENUES ARE CERTIFIED BASED OFF OF THE JULY 20TH, THE JULY 30TH 1ST OR JULY 25TH CERTIFIED VALUES. THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY ACTUALLY BILL IN OCTOBER. SO THEY TYPICALLY BILL A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN WHAT I'M CERTIFYING. SO WE GET MORE PROPERTY TAXES. AND ALSO YEAH, IF THAT'S HELPFUL. SO THAT 495 MILLION GENERAL FUND THAT WE'RE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT INCLUDES BOTH THE RESERVES AND THE EXPENDITURES. RIGHT. YES. AND WHAT IS THE WHAT IS THE LEVEL OF EXPENDITURES. THAT WE'RE, THAT WE'RE WHAT ARE THE WHAT ARE CAN WE SUBTRACT OUT WHAT THE LEVEL OF EXPENDITURES IS. SO WE. GO TO THE GO TO THE. 448. YEAH. IS THAT GENERAL FUND.

BECAUSE WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE TAX RATE, I WAS LOOKING AT NUMBERS OF LIKE OUR GENERAL FUND. EXPENDITURES, WE'RE GOING TO BE SOMETHING LIKE 467, 470, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. YES, COMMISSIONER. RIGHT NOW THE BUDGET THAT WE HAVE WITHOUT INCLUDING THE EMERGENCY RESERVE IS 448,000 MILLION 964,876 148. OKAY. WITHOUT THE EMERGENCY, WITHOUT THE EMERGENCY RESERVE. CORRECT. ONCE YOU ADD THAT IN, THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE THE 495 95. AND THAT NUMBER DID INCREASE DUE TO THE TAX RATE AND OUR FINANCIAL POLICY AND HOW MUCH WE ALLOCATE INTO THAT EMERGENCY RESERVE. YEAH. SO SO INSTEAD OF BECAUSE WE WERE LOOKING AT IF WE WOULD HAVE GONE DOWN TO THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, IT WOULD WE WOULD HAVE HAD SOMETHING LIKE $20 MILLION IN OUR RESERVES. AND BECAUSE WE RAISED THE, THE TAX RATE AND WE WERE LOOKING AT PUTTING ALL OF THAT INCREASE INTO THE RESERVES, THAT'S THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE IN ABOUT ANOTHER 20 OR 20, $25 MILLION, RIGHT? YES, SIR. OKAY. I THINK IT WAS GOING TO BE 28. NO, 28 MILLION. 28 MILLION. YEAH. BUT I THINK, BETSY, SINCE THE STRATEGIC PLANNING, YOU SORT OF

[05:10:03]

EVERYTHING THAT'S INCLUDED IN THE CERTIFIED REVENUES IS ONLY 90 DAYS FOR FEDERAL PRISONER REVENUES. IF IF WE DON'T GET IMPACTED JANUARY 1ST, AS EXPECTED, WE'LL HAVE SOME EXTRA REVENUE FROM THAT TOO. BUT I WOULD CAUTION US NOT TO BUDGET OR BANK ON THAT. I THINK THE SOME OF THESE NEW LAWS, WE WILL BE LUCKY TO WE LOOK, IF WE'RE NOT LIKE HAVING TO OUTSOURCE OUTSOURCE JAIL BIDS. RIGHT. I HAD A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS, BUT I AGREE. SO SO JUST SOME CLARIFYING ON WHAT THIS PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES. IT'S ONLY BUDGETING THE THE 90 DAYS OF THE FEDERAL INMATES, WHICH IS THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR. YES, MA'AM. AND THEN IT DOESN'T INCLUDE ANY SALARY INCREASES UNLESS IT WAS VOTED ON BY COMMISSIONERS COURT. FOR THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO SALARY INCREASES IN HERE OTHER THAN THE ENFORCEMENT, COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AND THE ONES SPECIFICALLY VOTED ON THE JUDGES. THE JUDICIARY PAY THE CONSTABLE POLICY, AND A LONGEVITY PAY FOR PUBLIC DEFENDERS. OKAY, DOES THIS INCLUDE THE HIRING FREEZE THAT WE VOTED ON AS WELL? THE HIRING FREEZE IS A SAVINGS THAT WE END UP REALIZING AT THE END OF THE YEAR. IT DOES NOT. WE DON'T BUDGET IT. OKAY. BUT WE ARE PLANNING ON MAINTAINING THE HIRING FREEZE. IT'S CONTINUING. IT'S IN EFFECT. AND THAT WILL HELP US PRODUCE LOWER EXPENSES. THIS BUDGET TAKES THAT INTO ACCOUNT. IT IT'S BUDGETED. SO FOR EXAMPLE, I HOPE NO ONE IN MY OFFICE IS LEAVING. SO I'M BUDGETING THEM AT FULL BUDGET.

BUT IF ONE OF THEM LEAVES I'M NOW SUBJECT TO THE HIRING FREEZE. AND SO I WILL PRODUCE MY BUDGET WILL PRODUCE MORE SAVINGS THAN IT WOULD HAVE BECAUSE OF THE POLICY THAT GOES BACK INTO FUND BALANCE. THAT GOES BACK INTO FUND BALANCE. YES, MA'AM. PROBLEM IS, SOME OF THESE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE WE'VE PUT IN A HIRING FREEZE, BUT WE CAN'T REALLY ENFORCE THAT ACROSS ALL EMPLOYEES. WE CAN'T DO THAT. IT THE POLICY IS CLEAR THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN POSITIONS THAT ARE MANDATED. WE CAN'T DO THAT. YEAH. WE CAN'T ASK FOR EVERYBODY BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO GET SUED IN SPIRIT OF COOPERATION. SO THE POLICY DOESN'T APPLY TO THOSE POSITIONS. BUT WE DO ASK, IN THE SPIRIT OF COOPERATION AND TRYING TO HELP US MANAGE THESE FUNDS, THAT DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE EXEMPT FROM IT TRY TO THEIR BEST TO PRODUCE AS MUCH SAVINGS FROM VACANCIES, WHICH WAS THE CASE BY CASE DECISION THAT WE MADE. IT WOULD BE. THAT'S. NO THAT'S FOR EXAMPLE, A BAILIFF. IT'S MANDATED BY LAW. WELL, YES. BUT IF A JUDGE HAS AMANDA BAILIFF LEAVE AND IF THEY LOOK AT THEIR COURT HEARING OR THEIR DOCKET AND THEY COULD WAIT AN EXTRA TWO WEEKS TO FILL THE POSITION, WE HOPE, IN THE SPIRIT OF COOPERATION, THAT THEY WOULD DO THAT. I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT WE DON'T WE DON'T PUT IT IT'S NOT IN THE POLICY. IT'S ON THEIR OWN GOODWILL. AND AND THIS COURT TRIED THAT BEFORE WITH OTHER POSITIONS AND GOT SUED. NOT IN MY TIME HERE, BUT I'M SURE IT DID HAPPEN. WE THIS COURT

[05:15:01]

AND, BETSY, WE AGREED THAT FROM STRATEGIC PLANNING, WHEN WE START LOOKING AT THOSE THINGS, WE'RE A LITTLE MORE GENEROUS. LIKE, WE WANT TO DO THIS, WE WANT TO DO THAT. AND THEN YOU GUYS HAVE TO DEAL WITH WITH WHAT WE'VE REQUESTED AND THEN TRY TO. SO I THINK THAT'S WHERE IT STARTS. THAT RIGHT THERE STRATEGIC PLANNING IS SAY, YOU KNOW, CAN WE HAVE THESE THINGS.

WE JUST CAN'T BE PUTTING THEM AS THINGS THAT WE WANT. AND THEN THEY GO INTO OUR BUDGET AND THEY HAVE TO COME BACK. AND AND I THINK WE NEED TO BE JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE CAUTIOUS, MORE THAN I'VE EVER SEEN ON LIKE, OUR NEXT STRATEGIC PLANNING. AND YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS. IT'S GOT TO BE EXTREMELY RIGID AS NO MORE SORT OF PIE IN THE SKY KIND OF THING.

[05:20:03]

SO I THINK THE WAY YOU'RE APPROACHING STRATEGIC PLANNING NOW, WHERE YOU TIE IT IN REALLY CLOSE TO THE BUDGET, I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A HUGE PART OF THIS PROCESS THAT COMMISSIONER BUTLER IS TALKING ABOUT. AND I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. THE LAST TIME WE HAD TO GO THROUGH AND DO THESE CUTS, THE LAST TIME WE HAD TO GO THROUGH AND DO CUTS, WE LOOKED AT WHAT IS THE IMPACT, WHAT WAS IN THE BUDGET THAT WE'RE SAYING, HERE'S A WAY YOU CAN GENERATE $20 MILLION, FOR EXAMPLE, IN SAVINGS FROM YOUR BUDGET. AND WE WENT THROUGH AND WE TOOK OUT PROGRAMS. SO DIGITAL LIBRARY AT ONE POINT WAS IN THE BUDGET. IT HAD NOT BEEN LAUNCHED. AND THAT IS ONE OF THE ONES THAT WE CUT. AND WE KEPT A RUNNING LIST OF WHAT WAS IN THAT WE'RE NOW TAKING OUT. AND THERE WERE THE MUNICIPAL ID WAS IN AND WE TOOK IT OUT, AND NOW IT'S IN AN OPERATING. THERE WERE SEVERAL PROGRAMS, BUT THE COURT WENT THROUGH AND I REMEMBER IT WAS TOUGH DISCUSSIONS, TOUGH. WHY THIS ONE VERSUS THAT ONE? OR LIKE I REMEMBER COMMISSIONER STOUT FIGHTING TOOTH AND NAIL TO KEEP MUNICIPAL ID IN AT LEAST IN PART LEAVE SOME MONEY IN THERE, I MEAN, THERE THERE WAS THOSE KINDS OF DISCUSSIONS AND DEBATES AND THE COURT WOULD TALK ABOUT WHAT IS WHAT ARE THE IMPACTS, WHAT HAVE WE ALREADY STARTED, WHAT WILL BE LOSING SERVICES? WHAT WILL HOW WILL THIS IMPACT? HOW LONG IS THE PROGRAM BEEN IN EXISTENCE? HOW MANY USERS, HOW MANY, HOW MANY PEOPLE BENEFIT FROM IT, AND WHAT IS THE DEGREE OF THAT BENEFIT? AND SO THERE WE KEPT TRACK OF EVERYTHING, AND WE HAVE TRIED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO BRING THOSE ITEMS TO THE DISCUSSION TABLE, OR AND THEY EVENTUALLY MADE IT BACK IN, OR THE COURT REMOVED THEM FROM THEIR STRATEGIC PLAN. AND IF I MAY, BETSY AND JUDGE COMMISSIONERS, I THINK ALSO A GOOD STARTING POINT IS GOING TO BE AS WE COLLABORATE WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND TAKE A DEEPER DIVE INTO EACH DEPARTMENT AND WHAT'S STATUTORILY MANDATED AND WHAT'S NOT. I THINK THAT WILL ALSO GIVE THE COURT A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A VIEW OF WHERE WE CAN FOCUS OUR ATTENTION ON SOME OF THOSE BUDGETS. YEAH, THAT'S OUR FIRST WOULD DO. WE HAVE TO DO RIGHT WITHOUT THAT? I MEAN, THAT'S NOT A AND I ALSO YEAH, I ALSO JUST WANT TO MENTION AT LEAST ME PERSONALLY, MY OFFICE WAS CONTACTED BY THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ASKING FOR MORE FUNDING FOR THEIR OPERATIONS. THE JUDGES, THE JUDICIAL SALARIES.

WE WERE CONTACTED BY THEM TO TO INCREASE OUR OUR SUPPLEMENT, THE TAX ASSESSOR, COLLECTOR'S OFFICE. WE HEARD FROM THEM AND THEY WERE AT MY COMMUNITY MEETING LAST WEEK, YOU KNOW, AND THOSE ARE ALL STATE MANDATED FUNCTIONS. AND SO I AND THEY'RE NOT INCLUDED IN THIS BUDGET. NO INCREASES. RIGHT. SO I THINK WE I WOULD LIKE TO FIND A WAY TO HAVE THOSE CONSTRUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE DEPARTMENTS AND THE ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO ARE REQUESTING THESE FUNDS TO SAY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TIGHTEN EVERYTHING ACROSS THE BOARD. BUT I KNOW THAT THE FIRST THINGS TO THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE CUT ARE THE NON STATE MANDATED PROGRAMS. COMMISSIONER, IF I MAY. GABBY SHARED WITH YOU EARLIER THIS SLIDE OF FUTURE IMPACTS WHAT YOU DON'T SEE ON HERE COMING IN LIKE 27, 28 AND 29 IS WHEN OUR BOND PROJECTS COME ONLINE, WHEN THEY COME OUT OF CONSTRUCTION AND THEY GO INTO OPERATIONS, ANY ANTICIPATED INCREASE TO THE OPERATIONAL COSTS IS ANOTHER THING THAT WE'LL HAVE TO LOOK AT, AND WE NEED TO START LOOKING AT THAT PROBABLY IN 26 FOR 27 TO START BUILDING UP, TO HAVE THE RESOURCES TO COVER THOSE NEW PROJECTS AS THEY COME ONLINE. AND HOW MUCH LONGER CAN WE GO WITHOUT GIVING STAFF A COST OF LIVING INCREASE? SORRY, I'M I FEEL VERY PESSIMISTIC ABOUT ABOUT OUR OUR BUDGET AND OUR FUTURE. I THINK ONE OF THE TOUGHEST IS TO REJECT GRANTS THAT WE HAVE TO PICK UP LATER. THAT'S A REALLY DIFFICULT ONE BECAUSE THEY'RE SAYING NO MATCH AND EVERYBODY'S HAPPY. BUT THEN WHEN THE GRANT FINISHES, WE HAVE TO PICK UP THOSE, YOU KNOW, THOSE HIRED OR WE HAVE TO TELL THEM, NO, YOU'RE NO LONGER HIRED. AND THAT'S TO ME, THAT'S A BIG PART OF LIKE US ACCEPTING GRANTS THAT EVENTUALLY WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF OR PEOPLE GET USED TO THE PROGRAM. ABSOLUTELY. AND THEN THE FUNDING GOES AWAY.

AND SO WE CAN NO LONGER DO WHATEVER THAT PROGRAM WAS THROUGH THAT GRANT. THAT'S VERY TOUGH. WILL THAT HAPPEN WITH ARPA? I MEAN, THAT WE COVERED SOME COVERED EXPENSES AND THEN WE HAVE TO PICK THEM UP. AND IT WAS A DIFFICULT AT THE TIME. I THINK WE HAD MORE FLEXIBILITY.

BUT I DON'T THINK WE WE HAVE THAT KIND OF FLEXIBILITY. I MEAN, WE DIDN'T HAVE TO WE

[05:25:03]

BUT I BELIEVE THAT WE COMMITTED TO NOVEMBER STARTING TO TO ROLL INFORMATION OUT TO THE COURT MUCH MORE FAVORABLE. YEAH. BUT THAT YOU ALL THEN WOULD DISCUSS AT STRATEGIC PLANNING PRIORITIZING WHAT WHAT TO FUND AND WHAT NOT TO FUND. STRATEGIC PLANNING IS. I'VE SAID THIS A I KNOW A LOT, BUT YOU YOU DON'T START WITH BUDGET AND THEN MAKE A PLAN. YOU MAKE A PLAN THAT WE WE BUDGET FROM. AND SO WE HAVE TO PRIORITIZE LIKE YOUR PRIORITIES HELP US USE THE RESOURCES OR DEDICATE THE RESOURCES. ALLOCATE THEM IN A PROPOSED BUDGET TO YOU. SO HEARING WHAT THOSE WHAT THOSE PROGRAMS ARE MAKING THE BIGGEST IMPACT FOR YOU AND YOUR PRECINCTS ARE CRITICAL FOR US IN COMPILING A BUDGET. WELL, AND I UNDERSTOOD WELL, AT LEAST MAYBE PART OF THE STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS TO BE CONTINGENT ON FUNDING. SO I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. AND I HAD A MEETING LAST WEEK WITH WITH SOME OF OUR GRANT WATER DEVELOPMENT STAFF SAYING, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THAT THERE'S FUNDING RIGHT NOW, ONE OF THE RARE PLACES WHERE WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FUNDING IS THROUGH NAD BANK, BECAUSE THEY GOT AN INFUSION OF FUNDING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. AND SO WE WERE LOOKING AT THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND WE SAID WE COULD PROBABLY PUT IN A PLANNING GRANT FOR A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO INCLUDE IN THIS YEAR'S STRATEGIC PLAN. YOU KNOW, MAYBE THAT'S THE APPROACH WE TAKE OR PART OF THE APPROACH WE TAKE DURING STRATEGIC PLANNING TO SAY WHAT OUTSIDE FUNDING SOURCES COULD WE GET FOR SOME OF THESE THESE INITIATIVES THAT WE HAVE? BECAUSE I KNOW A LOT OF WHAT WE DO, THE COMMUNITY IS NOT GOING TO WANT US TO TO CUT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO WANT THAT. BUT MAYBE THERE ARE MORE INNOVATIVE FUNDING MECHANISMS THAT WE CAN START LOOKING INTO. AND THAT COULD BE PART OF NOT JUST A FUNCTION OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN, BUT REALLY INGRAINED INTO THAT. SO WHAT ARE THOSE FUNDING SOURCES FOR EACH INITIATIVE THAT WE'RE GOING TO GO AFTER? YEAH, I MEAN, AND THAT THAT INCLUDES WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, GRANTS FOR GRANTS FOR PROJECTS THAT. EXPANDING OUR GRANT CAPACITY, BUT NOT CREATING NEW PROGRAMS WITH THOSE GRANTS, USING THOSE GRANT THAT GRANT MONEY TO TO FUND INFRASTRUCTURE, INFRASTRUCTURE, INFRASTRUCTURE AND OTHER THINGS THAT THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT ARE ALREADY IN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN THAT THAT WE'RE ALREADY DOING THAT OFFSETS THE TAXPAYERS CONTRIBUTION, BUT NOT CREATE NEW PROGRAMS WHERE THOSE POSITIONS HAVE TO BE ABSORBED INTO FUTURE BUDGETS. RIGHT. AND I THINK PROBABLY THE OTHER FOCUS WE NEED TO DO IS HOW CAN WE INCREASE THE REVENUE. NOW THAT'S A GOOD STRATEGIC PLAN. YES. WELL, I MEAN, IT'S IT'S DIFFICULT BECAUSE WE CAN'T ASSESS FEES. I MEAN, THE ONLY, THE ONLY WE HAVE VERY FEW TOOLS TO INCREASE REVENUE. RIGHT. SO GRANTS IF WE GO AFTER THEM WE CAN GO AFTER MORE GRANTS, TAX INCREASES. BUT I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WELL I'M TALKING ABOUT THAT FOR EXAMPLE, INSTEAD OF WHAT WE CAN MAYBE DO IS WE'RE GOING TO SAY, OKAY, WE'RE PLANNING ON CUTTING ON SOME OF THESE NON-MANDATED

[05:30:03]

WE MAY HAVE TO START SOMETIME. YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE THE AREAS THAT PARKS IN SOUTH TEXAS DO THAT. THE COUNTIES DO THAT. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER YOU HAVE ANYTHING GOING ON OR NOT. IT'S A PARK FEE, PARKING FEE OR WHATEVER OR JUST AN ENTRANCE FEE. I MEAN, I MEAN, THAT'S PROBABLY TO ME, EVEN THOUGH THE PUBLIC SAID, WELL, WE'RE PAYING TAXES, WELL, IT'S BETTER THAN GETTING RID OF IT. THE SERVICE. I DON'T KNOW, OR NOT BEING ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE MAINTENANCE OF THE PARKS. THE ONLY GOOD THING THAT I'VE SEEN FROM THE COMMENTS I'VE GOTTEN FROM THE COMMUNITY, IS THAT THEY'RE STARTING TO UNDERSTAND MORE THAN EVER ABOUT WHAT THE STATE FORCES US TO DO AND HOW DIFFICULT IT IS, BECAUSE THERE WAS NO SENSITIVITY THERE BEFORE.

IT WAS LIKE, YOU RAISE THE TAXES OR YOU DID THIS AND AND NOW I THINK THERE'S MORE OF AN UNDERSTANDING THAT ESPECIALLY THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION. I MEAN, IT WAS OBVIOUS THIS AGGRESSION TOWARDS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO LET YOU HAVE LESS AND THEN YOU FIGURE IT OUT AND WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU MORE UNFUNDED MANDATES, AND THEN YOU FIGURE IT OUT. SO I THINK THE OTHER WAY AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS, AND I KNOW COMMISSIONER STOUT WOULD HELP A LOT. IS THAT HOW HOW AGGRESSIVE AND HOW MUCH INVESTMENT DO WE MAKE TO CHANGE THE LEGISLATION TO, YOU KNOW, TO CHALLENGE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AT THE STATE LEVEL? THAT BUT I'VE SEEN MORE, AT LEAST MORE OF AN OPENNESS ABOUT UNDERSTANDING THE, YOU KNOW, WHAT PREDICAMENT WE'RE IN BECAUSE OF, OF, YOU KNOW, LEGISLATION AND STATUTES THAT ARE VERY, VERY DIFFICULT FOR US. THE FEDERAL ONE TO ME IS, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU TAKE AWAY $25 MILLION BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE FEDERAL CHARGES NOW BEING STATE CHARGES. AND I MEAN, HOW DO YOU HOW DO YOU WORK AS A, YOU KNOW, AS A GOVERNMENT ENTITY WHERE THEY TAKE AWAY THAT KIND OF REVENUE FROM YOU? AND, YOU KNOW, IT HELPED US A LOT TO, YOU KNOW, TO BE ABLE TO COMPENSATE FOR, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T GET ANY STATE MONEY FOR, YOU KNOW, STATE, STATE INMATES.

BUT IT HELPED US HAVE A MORE QUALITY, YOU KNOW, JAIL BECAUSE OF THE FEDERAL MONEY THAT CAME IN. SO, YOU KNOW, I KNOW REMEMBER, IF YOU REMEMBER, BETSY, PEOPLE JUST SAID WE SHOULDN'T HAVE FEDERAL INMATES. YOU KNOW, THAT WAS A BIG THING. AS OF, YOU KNOW, WE'RE CATERING TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. BUT, I MEAN, THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DO TO MAKE SURE WE BALANCE THE THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE. SO BUT I THINK WE, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE WARNED US ENOUGH, BETSY, ON, ON, ON WHAT WE NEED TO DO AND HOW WE OURSELVES AT COMMISSIONERS COURT HAVE TO RESTRICT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE VERSUS THINGS WE HAVE TO DO.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE AN EASY CHALLENGE, I THINK, GOING FORWARD TO I MEAN, WE KNOW WE CANNOT RELY SOLELY ON THE TAX RATE. SO WE DO KNOW WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO WORK TO TRIM OUR EXPENSES BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHER EXPENSES THAT ARE COMING THAT WE CANNOT FOREGO, LIKE THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURES. WE WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO PUT THAT OFF, OR ELSE WE'LL END UP PAYING MORE FOR THINGS BECAUSE WE'LL HAVE TO PAY INTEREST FOR THEM ON THINGS THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE HAVING TO USE INTEREST TO PAY FOR. AND SO WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CONTINUE TO TRIM UP OUR, OUR EXPENSES TO BE ABLE TO ALLOW FOR THOSE EXPENSES THAT WE ARE FOREGOING RIGHT NOW. AND JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS AND COUNTY ATTORNEY, BEFORE WE WRAP UP THE PUBLIC HEARING, WE HAVE A SLIGHTLY MODIFIED PROPOSED MOTION FOR YOU ALL FOR THE NEXT ITEM TO GIVE SUFFICIENT DIRECTION ON THE RISK POOL ADJUSTMENT. AND SO, JUST SO THAT YOU ALL KNOW, THE MOTION FOR THE NEXT ITEM WOULD BE APPROVE AND ADOPT THE ATTACHED EL PASO COUNTY ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2025 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2026, TO INCLUDE THE ADJUSTMENT PRESENTED BY STAFF DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING IN ALL HEALTH INSURANCE OBJECT CODES IN THE GENERAL FUND TO MEET THE ONE TIME COUNTY RISK POOL CONTRIBUTION REDUCTION. AND THAT WAS INCLUDED IN SLIDE 25.

[05:35:04]

[05:40:01]

AND AND SO I MEAN, THIS IS, YOU KNOW, THIS HAS TO BE OUR STORY AND OUR MESSAGE THAT THE STATE IS REALLY HANDING IT TO THE TAXPAYERS. AND, AND AND, YOU KNOW, WE CANNOT STOP TALKING ABOUT THAT. AND THAT HAS TO BE OUR, OUR STORY, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON HERE. EVERY SINGLE PART OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, EVERY SINGLE PIECE IS SO INFLUENCED BY THE STATE. AND, AND WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE BEING WE'RE THE ONES THAT ARE TAKING THE, THE BRUNT OF THE OF THE BURDEN AND OF THE AND OF THE IRE OF THE PUBLIC FOR WHAT'S GOING ON.

RIGHT. AND SO I THINK IT'S REALLY SOMETHING THAT COMMISSIONER BUTLER SAID AS WELL, HAVING COMMUNITY MEETINGS. I MEAN, THIS IS WHERE THE PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING IS GOING TO COME IN. SO IMPORTANTLY FOR US IS PAINTING THIS PICTURE SAYING, LOOK, THE

[05:45:03]

THEY'RE ALMOST LIKE, YOU KNOW, MANDATED BECAUSE THE PUBLIC REALLY DEMANDS THEM, NOT JUST WANTS THEM, DEMANDS THEM. THAT'S TOTALLY DIFFERENT THAN WANTING IT. FOR EXAMPLE, PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES. SO WE REALLY NEED TO HAVE A FEW WORKSHOPS AND WE LET ADMINISTRATION KNOW IT'S GOING TO TAKE THE BRUNT OF THEM INITIALLY TO GET US SOME OF THESE INFORMATION, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO WORK COMPLETELY. THIS IS ALL HANDS ON DECK. NUMBER ONE, HAVE THESE WORKSHOPS. WHAT'S ON THE TABLE THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO CUT? WHAT WE CAN'T. THEN, YOU KNOW, DO WE DECIDE THAT ON SOME OF THESE SERVICES CAN WE, YOU KNOW, DO SOME FEES TO OFFSET SOME OF THAT SERVICE WITHOUT HAVING TO CUT THEM? I DON'T KNOW, NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO, THOSE EFFICIENCIES THAT I TALKED ABOUT, HOW WE CAN GO ABOUT DOING THAT AND THEN HOW CAN WE INCREASE OUR REVENUE OTHER WAYS. AND THERE'S SOME THERE'S SOME OPPORTUNITIES AND ONES COMING UP HERE HOPEFULLY VERY SHORTLY FOR US THAT MIGHT GIVE US A LITTLE NOT A TON OF BREATHING ROOM BUT A LITTLE BIT. AND SO I'M THINKING THAT IT'S IT'S IT'S A MULTI-PRONGED ATTACK. WE HAVE TO DO NOT JUST CUT. I THINK WE NEED TO SERIOUSLY LOOK AT EVERYTHING AND THEN ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY. LOOK, THIS IS WHERE WE'RE AT. TELL US WHAT YOU PREFER AND GET DIRECTION ON SOME OF THESE ISSUES FROM THEM, BECAUSE ULTIMATELY THEY'RE THE ONES THAT DECIDE THAT, YOU KNOW, YEAH, WE NEED THEM. AND THEN SO THE TAX RATE IS GOING TO MAINTAIN THERE AND THEN SO BE IT. THAT'S A DECISION OF THE COMMUNITY. SO JESSICA. OKAY OKAY. WELL WE HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO SECOND BY COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. THE VOTING IS OPEN. OOPS I VOTE I, I DON'T KNOW WHY MY

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.