BROWNSVILLE, Texas - Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño, Jr., says he is pleased to hear Congress is finally going to consider compensating cities and counties for the loss of revenues caused by the coronavirus.
Sales tax revenues to expected to plummet because of the tailspin the economy is in. Without extra funding from the federal government, Treviño argues, essential services such as police, emergency management and public health will be at risk.
“It was very concerning to me why there was any hesitation on the part of Congress, whether it was the House or the Senate, and it appears it was on the Senate, that they did not want to consider the impact COVID-19 has had on local governments, cities and counties,” Treviño told Ron Whitlock Reports.
“The reality is that the local governments, cities, counties and the state, have expended a large amount of money in numerous areas, law enforcement, first responders, health, and the provision of regular government services to keep providing those services to our constituents.”
Treviño was alarmed at a recent comment by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell that states be allowed to go bankrupt.
“When there was discussion a few weeks ago about, oh, well, we will let the states go bankrupt, that to me indicated a lack of either concern or understanding of the reality of what local governments do. We do not want to stop providing police, fire protection, emergency response protection, during a pandemic, or at any time.”
Treviño is a former mayor of the largest city in the Rio Grande Valley - Brownsville. He said cities and counties do not want to cut back on other services, such as trash pick up. He said many services provided by local governments are likely taken for granted.
“Injecting additional money into the economic stream, keeping people in their jobs and providing, potentially, infrastructure projects is necessary,” Treviño said.
He argued that in the Valley, major infrastructure projects, such as improving roads, bridges, drainage systems and international ports of entry would go along way.
“I hope it happens soon because all of those potential possibilities are a win-win, both at the national, state and local level.”
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