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Cameron County has adopted a balanced 2024-25 budget totaling $225 million that lowers property taxes and includes enhanced health care and retirement benefits for employees.
The budget includes a half-cent reduction in property taxes, from .431893 to .426893 compared to 2023-24, County Judge Eddie Trevino and the commissioners ourt stated in a news release.
“This is the second consecutive year the Cameron County Commissioners’ Court has decreased the property tax rate by a half cent, which directly benefits all property owners in Cameron County,” Trevino stated in the release.
“This year’s budget approval is one that consolidates the sentiment of the Commissioners’ Court. We’re giving back to our hardworking and dedicated employees and reducing the property tax rate for all property owners in Cameron County,” Trevino stated.
The budget also increases the county’s contribution to employee retirement accounts to $2.50 for every $1 invested by employees, the maximum allowed by the Texas County and District Retirement System, or TCDRS, Assistant County Administrator Anthony Lopez said.
The county requires employees to contribute 7% of their wages to TCDRS and, once vested, matches that at a rate that was increased from $2 to $2.50 for every $1 invested, Lopez said.
The court also approved for the first time a 3% cost of living increase in perpetuity for all active retirees, also the highest allowed by TCDRS, Lopez said.
“Not only are we helping employees, we’re helping our retirees,” he said.
Additionally, the county enhanced its healthcare plan to give employees flexibility to adjust their coverage during the year, rather than having to choose plan A or plan B during open enrollment in the fall and adhere to that selection during the entire year.
“Instead of employees having to select plan A or plan B during open enrollment, now we’re only going to offer one plan where they can move between plans A and B and tailor their healthcare plan to their needs,” Lopez said.
Employees can move from an ACO, or Accountable Care Organization, which offers lower copays but fewer benefits, to a PPO, or Preferred Provider Organization, which has higher copays but more benefits, as their healthcare needs change during the year, Lopez explained.
“It’s a highly customized insurance plan with the best premiums you could find in the Rio Grande Valley,” Lopez said.
