[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6587853,"mediaKeyId","5545549-d4d8b98a9c9ce2130cc55d010675e001","parentId",5545549,"title","Hidalgo County Commissioners approve contracts, budget moves, proclamations and settlements","audioSeconds",5672,"startMs",482000,"endMs",6154000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5545549-d4d8b98a9c9ce2130cc55d010675e001&start=482&end=6154","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5545549-d4d8b98a9c9ce2130cc55d010675e001/thumbnail_482000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6587853/Hidalgo-County/Texas/Hidalgo-County-Commissioners-approve-contracts-budget-moves-proclamations-and-settlements","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6587853-2d2a204289b0e992fc30bf949da01c4f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770427946&Signature=PT-DuW05kZup34wd1j3K95uR6EIvtjTqCor5L1-YEhAUJaZn8JBzX4NSlzrDkgry5d4yCpq~zazU-LvTA3-orat6MUCipmBdU03k7DU-O9uWmExeout-z3NOWHgBrR5qaOdpIm9moqlL7AplUZRMYGNUwfcq1OkSmaYQJnsOCkGcD1obWrhLQSqeOrF3xYEEhPXplgHpCjEDUKil~EWmwBQhT~iDxdMqpYwvD-opYr0~l48EKUZZbAkn9R2xGpuAs0nqPsLhtKkClo5ZsXC8Nn~QrDLsLxWFUQSwQZbby0fZKuDHQXmS2fbVxMg818baaMd9dItHZc4jdplR7egvNg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Hidalgo","date","2025-08-05T00:00:00Z","article","Hidalgo County Commissioners Court on Tuesday approved a package of routine and substantive actions including construction awards, interlocal agreements, budget appropriations for road maintenance, personnel actions and several small legal settlements.

The court voted to: terminate a local disaster declaration tied to a May heavy-rain event; accept a collections report from Purdue, Brandon, Fielder, Collins & Mott covering 2024 activity and ongoing 2025 work; approve multiple interlocal cooperative agreements (including an agreement with the Texas Division of Emergency Management and one with Sullivan City for emergency services); award construction work and change orders for road and drainage projects; approve appropriations from the road and bridge fund for precinct maintenance; confirm elections department staffing rosters for 2025–2027; and adopt several proclamations recognizing local volunteers, youth sports teams and business anniversaries.

Key administrative approvals and notes:
- Emergency management: The court approved ending the local state of disaster related to the May 2025 torrential rainfall and authorized the county judge to execute related documents.
- Procurement and construction: The court accepted bids and awarded work for multiple drainage and road projects across precincts, and approved change orders and work authorizations recommended by county engineers and construction managers.
- Roads and budgets: The court appropriated $700,000 from road and bridge fund balance into Precinct 1 road maintenance and $230,000 into Precinct 4 for paving expenses.
- Elections and staffing: Elections Administrator Hilda Salinas presented staffing rosters submitted by the Democratic and Republican parties; the court approved appointment lists for early voting ballot boards, signature verification committees, central counting station personnel, judges and clerks for the Aug. 1, 2025–July 31, 2027 term.
- Health and human services: The court approved multiple grant budget revisions and appropriations and a 90-day personnel reclassification to cover federal funding reductions to public health preparedness programs; staff said some positions were moved laterally to avoid layoffs where possible.
- Proclamations: The court approved proclamations honoring the 60th anniversary of the Foster Grandparents Program, the Weslaco Little League 11U all-star softball team (state champions), Edcouch-Elsa ISD women’s powerlifting state champions, and the 20th anniversary of Palenque Grill in Hidalgo County.
- Legal settlements: In closed session the court authorized settlement offers or payments, including a $50,000 settlement in Santos Eugenio Serrano v. Hidalgo County and several smaller claim offers that the court authorized to settle.

Why it matters: The votes move forward multi-precinct infrastructure work, reallocate county road maintenance funds and establish operational details needed ahead of upcoming construction and the November election cycle. The health department actions indicate adjustments in response to federal funding changes.

What to watch next: Multiple construction awards and work authorizations require contractor insurance, bonds and pre-construction documentation before work begins; county staff will report back on implementation and scheduling. The elections office will continue recruiting poll workers for the fall cycle.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Hidalgo - Commissioner's Court","oneSentenceSummary","The court approved construction contracts, interlocal agreements, road appropriations, personnel items, proclamations and several settlement offers. The court also accepted a collections report and approved election staffing rosters for 2025–2027.","taxTitle","Hidalgo County, Texas","taxId",2708,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6587858,"Hidalgo County sets 6% mandatory hospital assessment after public hearing",116,2464000,2580000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5545549-d4d8b98a9c9ce2130cc55d010675e001&start=2464&end=2580","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5545549-d4d8b98a9c9ce2130cc55d010675e001/thumbnail_2464000.jpg","/articles/6587858/Hidalgo-County/Texas/Hidalgo-County-sets-6-mandatory-hospital-assessment-after-public-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6587858-a5b95a8bd3ba8d86d6aade8eae46b3e2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770427946&Signature=WXduYsZ5ltj8PPl4wKZpruhF8pmDT-Z4NZrJoFnBtK-yeRPzR2TfCnJq7T--ZGNfytZQUWWEN7vMEgUzEMV1u0pO-SxqSo~rSa~Ajh6SwQWJ59pVZgjPcExMb-41fX-JUR3DcaO1UtLaiT2wTcxBKECjmJ1kzpMYLn3oY5R0MptUnor5sGxm5pCysx6ne3G742qkszg3LacHOgwF-YLfP6YlhvO3uHJjgkiXcLaL8qVuwRfHb0fzmbFKqaaas829LuvXa~97K-vlHEInYyWy3437ZtXPIo5bBqkjI5QeEUfaNO6V196TA49MHgHOnt3E020f7NaqacwCjMfLnFW6IA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Hidalgo County Commissioners Court on Tuesday approved a 6% mandatory payment on net patient revenue for paying hospitals in the County Health Care Funding District for fiscal year 2026 following a 10:30 a.m. public hearing and a request from hospital representatives.

The action came after a hospital industry representative urged the court to retain the current assessment rate. \"On behalf of the hospitals, we respectfully request that you set the rate at the current rate at 6 percent,\" said Michael Neal of Alonzo Healthcare Ventures during the public hearing.

The court’s vote authorized the mandatory payment at 6% for the district fiscal year starting Sept. 2025 and ending Aug. 2026; authorized the Hidalgo County tax assessor-collector to collect the payment; and set quarterly assessment dates. Commissioners voted in favor on each item.

Why it matters: The district’s mandatory payments are used to fund the Hidalgo County Health Care Funding District’s programs and to meet the district’s statutory obligations. Setting the rate and collection dates defines hospitals’ quarterly payment schedule and how revenues will be processed for the coming fiscal year.

What the court approved:
- Setting the mandatory payment rate at 6% of net patient revenue for FY2026 (approved by motion).
- Authorizing the Hidalgo County tax assessor-collector to collect the mandatory payments on a quarterly basis (approved by motion).
- Setting quarterly assessment dates at 11/30/2025, 02/28/2026, 05/31/2026 and 08/31/2026 (approved by motion).

Public comment and process: Michael Neal, representing local hospitals, spoke during the public hearing and asked the court to keep the rate at 6%. No other members of the public addressed the court on the matter before the court closed the hearing and voted. The court followed motions, seconds and roll-calls for each item and recorded approval by voice vote.

Next steps: County staff will proceed with the administrivia of billing and remittance under the new schedule and the tax assessor-collector will begin quarterly assessments per the adopted calendar.

","After a public hearing, Hidalgo County Commissioners Court approved a 6% mandatory payment on paying hospitals for fiscal year 2026 and set quarterly assessment dates and collection authority.","actionData","errors"]

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Hidalgo County Commissioners approve contracts, budget moves, proclamations and settlements

Hidalgo County sets 6% mandatory hospital assessment after public hearing