The local daily has published an article talking about the way the county is forwarding its legislative agenda to close Boca Chica Beach if and when SpaceX decides it will take our millions in the bidding war it has staged between Texas, Georgia, Florida and Puerto Rico to build a commercial satellite launch pad.
But tucked into the legislative agenda is another proposal (Bill HB 3126) to allow Cameron County to raise its current $10 surcharge on vehicle registrations to an undetermined amount ($20?) to fund the Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority. The bill is being carried by Eddie Lucio III and has not been assigned to a committee.
Call it the David Garcia Welfare Act. If it passes, the doubled registration fees will kick in on Sept. 1, 2013.You know about the Regional Mobility Authorities like the one in Cameron County. They have been in existence since Gov. Rick Perry established them across the state to fund toll roads and benefit large highway construction concerns.
In Cameron County, the CCRMA has built one toll road of dubious profitability (FM 511) and was turned down by neighborhood residents in Brownsville for the West Side Parkway. But those who have profited have been a handful of county employees who have been getting paid by the county and the CCRMA at the same time.
One of the most glaring examples of this double-dipping scheme has been none other than Do Nothing David Garcia, the administrative assistant to county administrator Pete Sepulveda. In previous posts we have documented the double dipping that goes on between the county and the CCRMA. Just as reminder, we'll list it again.
First, Garcia's sweet deal:
Planning and Inspection (Asst.): $56,089
Veterans Bridge (Asst.): $16,222
Los Indios Bridge (Asst.): $16,222
Gateway Bridge (Asst.): $17,121
Total (County) $105,654
C.C. Reg. Mob. Authority: $75,000Total (Salary) $180,654
(This total does not include any benefits or raises given Garcia for the 2012-2013 budget year which raises it to the $186,900 figure.)
Other employees besides Garcia and Sepulveda drawing a pretty penny from the CCRMA in addition to their salaries include court legal counsel Dylbia Jefferies Vega, $1,100 Martha Auditor Galarza who takes home an extra $800 a month, Sylvia DeHoyos, $400, Maria Robles, $450, Jesus Martin Peña, $200, and Hendrick Quelhorst, $125.
Now, it just happens that one of Garcia is duties is to assist with the carrying of the legislative agenda to Austin. If all goes well and car owners in Cameron County are levied twice what they are paying now to register their car, he can claim he raised millions to justify his salary and perks.
One of his greatest supporters on the county commission is none other than Pct. 3 commissioner David Garza, Garcia's Fellow Traveler and constant companion. He has a son who works for an engineering firm that does business with the CCRMA and is struggling mightily to have a worker in that firm be chosen as the county's new Public Works Director.
Will Garcia and Garza get their way and double the cost of your registration fees? And who approved of sending this bill to Austin when Cameron and Hidalgo counties already pay higher registration fees than most other counties in Texas? Did anyone ask you?
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