Edinburg Council Sets Proposed Tax Rate Below No-New-Revenue Rate, Approves Rezonings and Bids
Edinburg, Edinburg City Council, Tax Rate, Omar Ochoa, MedCare EMS, Rezoning, Variance, National Aviation Day
Staff Report
Edinburg TX – The Edinburg City Council held its regular meeting Aug. 18, voting to set a proposed tax rate lower than the no-new-revenue rate, approving several rezoning and variance requests, and hearing a semi-annual report from the city’s ambulance provider.
Tax Rate
Director of Finance Ascención Alonzo presented three benchmark tax rates required under state truth-in-taxation law: a city manager’s proposed rate of $0.630, a no-new-revenue rate of $0.6303, and a voter-approval rate of $0.6735, the highest rate the city could adopt without triggering an election.
Alonzo said the proposed rate, which matches the rate held for the past three years, is lower than the no-new-revenue rate. “I’m not aware of it ever happening” before, Alonzo said in response to a question from Mayor Omar Ochoa about whether the city had previously proposed a rate below the no-new-revenue rate.
The council voted to authorize the proposed rate of $0.630 and set a public hearing for Sept. 15 at 6 p.m.
Mayor Ochoa said the city has been able to maintain the rate despite the loss of federal COVID-19 and American Rescue Plan Act funding and increased state-mandated homestead exemptions that have reduced property tax revenue for many local governments. “We are blessed and lucky that we are in a growing city,” Ochoa said, adding that new construction has largely offset revenue lost to expanded exemptions.
Council Member Dan Diaz credited city staff for the budget, noting that only about $2.959 million was added to the budget from the prior year’s property values. “It just credits the staff,” Diaz said. “This is my fourth year in office… a few of these budgets, when we first came into office, they were very scary. You walk away just dumbfounded by the numbers. And today it’s a different story.”
MedCare EMS Report
Fire Chief Omar Garza and a MedCare representative presented the ambulance provider’s semi-annual review. The city increased from three to five dedicated Mobile Intensive Care Unit ambulances this year. MedCare averages 600 to 700 calls per month and receives one to two complaints per year, according to the presentation.
From January through June, the city recorded 4,417 Priority 1 calls and 1,259 Priority 2 calls, for a total of 5,676 calls. Average response times were 6 minutes, 35 seconds for Priority 1 calls and 8 minutes, 18 seconds for Priority 2 calls.
Mayor Ochoa noted that four years ago, the city was not paying MedCare for services, relying instead on federal COVID-era funding. “Every year, EMS has been paid to make sure that the ambulance is standing by waiting for your family member,” Ochoa said, adding that the service is now fully funded in the city’s regular budget.
National Aviation Day Proclamation
The council proclaimed Aug. 19, 2026, as National Aviation Day. Eddie Velarde, director of aviation, said the airport recently completed a fence replacement and drainage study and is at 100% design for a runway extension project that will lengthen the runway from 5,000 to 6,000 feet, funded in part by a $20 million state grant.
“I don’t want to say the airport’s best days are — we’ve already started our best days,” Velarde said. Mayor Ochoa said the city envisions transforming the airport into a commercial trade and cargo hub, citing the planned extension of Highway 68 near the airport.
Rezoning and Variance Requests
The council denied a rezoning request for a proposed 10-unit multi-family development at 3709 Tagle Street, requested by Blanca and Roberto Garcia, following a motion aligned with a staff and Planning and Zoning Commission recommendation citing the surrounding single-family character of the area.
The council approved a rezoning request at 725 W. Rogers Road, requested by Quintanilla, Headley & Associates, for an expanded self-storage facility adjacent to an elementary school, despite a staff recommendation for denial. Mayor Ochoa voted against the item, saying he would have preferred input from the school district before voting.
The council unanimously approved a rezoning request at 3002 W. Mile 17½ Road, requested by Supreme Engineering, for an 82-lot single-family subdivision with lots ranging from 6,500 to 7,800 square feet.
The council approved a sign variance at 8300 N. I-69C requested by MatkinHoover Engineering & Surveying on behalf of QuikTrip, allowing a 90-foot sign to match an existing sign at a neighboring travel center. A QuikTrip representative said the location would be the company’s first travel center in Edinburg and second in the Rio Grande Valley, following one currently under construction in Raymondville.
The council approved a sign variance at 320 N. Closner Blvd. requested by Jorge Gonzalez for the business Willie B’s, tied to a Façade and Lot Improvement Program grant from the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation.
Four additional routine rezoning items were approved together under a combined motion, as staff and Planning and Zoning Commission recommendations were aligned.
The council approved a variance for lot frontage requirements for the proposed Jackson Estates Phase 2 subdivision at 5302 S. Jackson Road, requested by Melden & Hunt, allowing a private access easement for a landlocked commercial lot.
The council also approved two variances for the proposed Townhomes at Ebony subdivision at 188 W. Southland Ave., requested by developer Eliseo Garza Jr., for reduced townhome and commercial lot sizes, despite a staff recommendation for denial. Garza said the project is intended to offer homes in the $250,000 to $260,000 range.
Ordinance and Professional Services Contracts
The council adopted the 2024 International Fire Code and related 2024 and 2023 building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing codes. Chief Building Official Natalia Velasquez said the city held two town hall meetings on the changes and received no negative comments.
The council approved rotation lists of qualified firms for several categories of professional services, including right-of-way acquisition, real estate appraisal, geotechnical engineering, architectural services, land surveying, professional engineering and project management, to be used for city projects as they arise.
Health Insurance and Prescription Program
The council voted to reject bids for fully insured group medical coverage and authorized the city manager to negotiate a renewal to remain self-insured, based on cost and continuity of service, according to Director of Human Resources Erica Balli.
The council also approved a voluntary prescription personal importation program intended to reduce prescription drug costs for city employees under the self-insured health plan.
Consent Agenda
The council approved a consent agenda that included certification of a 100% anticipated tax collection rate for 2026 and budget transfers for the current fiscal year’s general and utility funds.
Executive Session
The council met in executive session from 7:59 p.m. to 9:33 p.m. to discuss legal matters, personnel matters, and real property and economic development matters. No action was taken upon returning to open session.