PRESIDIO — The Presidio City Council Monday accepted a proposed balanced budget without cuts to staff. The budget will be formally adopted at the September 28 council meeting and will go into effect on October 1. The council agreed to table discussion on cutting several major municipal departments following heated outcry from constituents and questions over their legal authority.
The council meeting on September 14 was attended by over 60 people, many angry at the idea of further cuts to services in a city already seen as operating on bare bones. The public agenda listed discussion and possible action on the position, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties or dismissal for eight civic roles, including the municipal judge, police chief, librarian and EMS director.
“We spoke about all departments, which is why all the department heads are on the agenda,” said Councilmember Cristian Montoya during his opening comments. “We have a balanced budget, which is okay, but we don’t have any reserves. If anything happens we’ll have to go into debt.”
Councilmembers Cristian Montoya, Alberto Muniz and Silverio Escontrias have expressed concern that a small emergency, such as equipment repair, could be debilitating. Montoya cited that equipment repair costs are budgeted at $120,000 a year, half the cost of a desperately needed new backhoe. Escontrias cited the costs of a municipal court at $100,000 a year, while a contract position could cost the city $12,000 annually.
“We don’t have to save all this money to buy a backhoe, that’s not true,” said Mayor Ferguson in reply. “For over a year now, we’ve had the option to pursue certificates of obligation. We can get every ounce of equipment that we need.”
This revelation prompted comments of outrage as members of the public protested simultaneously: “So after all these years we still have that same backhoe?” and “Why try to save money when there’s another option?”
Certificates of obligations are one of several financing options available to municipalities in Texas, including time warrants, general obligation bonds and revenue bonds. Grants were discussed at length as a revenue option by frustrated residents.
“There are grants for every single category being discussed,” said Presidio resident Ramon Rodriguez, who also coordinates several grant applications for the city of Marfa. Montoya, in particular, repeatedly criticized upkeep costs related to recent grant projects such as newly planted trees and sidewalk repair.
“We have sidewalks which are awesome,” he said. “I like them but they’re getting cracked. If we get a grant and don’t do the full research behind it, two years, three years later, we have to pay for it.”
“We’re tired of hearing the answer is to cut something else,” said resident Christina Hernandez in a statement during public comment. “We want job opportunities and growth. We want reasons for families to stay here. Fiscal responsibility matters but it can’t just be subtraction.”
This sentiment was echoed by numerous members of the public, who expressed frustration that the council did not appear to understand the roles that were being considered for cuts. Others pointed out that the positions being considered for cuts represented decades of civic experience.
“If we decide to make changes, I advise that you talk to the mayor and police department in Marfa, because they did that and it cost a lot of money to re-do it,” said Margarito Hernandez, a member of the police department, referencing the short-lived decision of Marfa to disband its police force before reestablishing it a few years later.
The council originally planned to discuss the budget and possible cuts during the executive session, which is prohibited. According to the Presidio ordinance and Texas law, City Council members are tasked with discussing a budget publicly, making a copy available to the public 30 days before adoption, and adopting the budget by October 1.
The authority of the council to use a budget hearing to dismiss key employees who report to the city administrator, an open role, was legally questioned by John Kennedy, the executive director of the Presidio Municipal Development Board, and Hernandez, who urged that the council review any proposed departmental changes with the city attorney.
The missteps were categorized as mistakes by council members. “It’s nothing personal, we’re all new to this city government stuff, we’re learning,” said Councilmember Escontrias.
Mayor John Ferguson advocated that the budget be adopted as is, and the city work to bring in additional revenue to fill its reserves. He cited nearly $10,000 in possible savings, and pressed the council to find additional revenue, including the end of subsidized diesel, a flat rate for water use, and a fee for park and facility rentals by private citizens.
The accepted 2027 budget will follow the recommendation from the financial secretary Glorissel Muniz of hiring two additional temporary public works employees, and keeping department staffing at current levels. A maximum 3% merit increase is possible based on employee evaluation. A cost of living increase has not been offered to city employees since 2018, according to City Secretary Brenda Orenelas.
The budget was not the only agenda item that caused controversy. Presidio ISD Superintendent Carmen Rubner stated that she was blindsided by an action item about an interlocal agreement between the school district and city over transportation costs. The agreement has been in place since 2017.
“There needs to be more transparency between the city council and the schools,” Rubner said. “Somebody should have brought changes to my attention before the vote. Honestly, I thought it was hidden and you were just trying to get it through.”
