What are among the greatest needs of the rural residents of Cameron County?
Many neighborhoods in the rural areas have been asking for street lights to be installed in their communities.
Can Cameron County assist the rural residents in bringing services into their rural neighborhoods?
Yes. The County has organized an election to allow rural residents to provide a funding source to implement a rural street light infrastructure program.
How can the rural residents fund a rural infrastructure program that could include rural street lights?
The County’s rural residents could elect to create a County Assistance District to address the needs of the people who live in the rural areas.
What is a County Assistance District?
A County Assistance District is a governmental body created through an election by a majority vote of the registered voters within a described area.
Registered voters decide whether to implement a sales tax on eligible sales within the district to fund improvements or programs.
How can the sales tax revenues be used?
Sales tax revenue in the rural areas may be used for:
- Public health or welfare services, including:
Street lights
Mosquito spraying
Disaster response
Fire prevention services
- Construction, maintenance, or improvement of roads
- Law enforcement and detention services
- Maintenance or improvement of libraries, museums, parks, or other recreational facilities
- Promotion of economic development and tourism
Who can vote on this district referendum?
Only registered voters who live within the district boundaries.
What are the district boundaries?
The district includes rural unincorporated areas of Cameron County, excluding those within the limits of any of the following 17 cities, towns, or villages:
Brownsville, Harlingen, San Benito, Los Fresnos, La Feria, Port Isabel, Rancho Viejo, South Padre Island, Laguna Vista, Bayview, Combes, Primera, Santa Rosa, Los Indios, Rio Hondo, Rangerville, Palm Valley, and Indian Lake.
When can I vote?
- Election Day: November 5, 2019
- Early Voting: Held in the days prior to Election Day
- Polling Places: Will be published in the Brownsville Herald, Valley Morning Star, and on the Cameron County Elections website
How much will the sales tax be?
The district is proposing a 2 cent sales tax, which is the same rate levied by most cities in the county.
- Example: A $10.00 purchase of eligible products would total $10.83, the same amount as in cities like Brownsville and Harlingen.
- The maximum allowed sales tax in Texas is 8.25%.
What is the estimated eligible sales within the district?
According to the State Comptroller’s Office:
- Estimated eligible sales: $47,500,000
- Estimated revenue: up to $950,000 annually for rural improvements
For More Information, Contact:
Pete Sepulveda
County Administrator
Cameron County
1100 E. Monroe St.
Brownsville, TX 78520
📞 (956) 982-5414
📧 PSepulveda@co.cameron.tx.us
Mark A. Yates
Program Development & Management Dept.
Cameron County Courthouse (Dancy Building), Room 105
1100 E. Monroe St.
Brownsville, TX 78520
📞 (956) 544-0828