Remarks by Ricardo A. Samaniego
171 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 7 of 7
- Play at 2:45:45
“Betsy, any feedback from HR or anything that we need to understand? Yes, sir. The impact of the decision?”
Commissioners Court · Aug 17, 2026
- Play at 5:33:50
“Judge, we appreciate your feedback. Judge?”
Commissioners Court · Aug 17, 2026
- Play at 5:35:38
“We'll have Commissioner Gruden, I'll second.”
Commissioners Court · Aug 17, 2026
- Play at 5:57:43
“But I think I'd like to have more consistency. I don't think we've ever said we might do this. Let's come up with some money. And we're right in the middle of trying to understand the situation. And to me, I've talked to both ESD chiefs, and they're still not convinced that's the right thing to do, and I feel like we're already going ahead and saying, well, we're moving in a different direction from the discussions we should be having with you.”
Commissioners Court · Aug 17, 2026
- Play at 5:58:16
“But we agreed that, you know, one of the reasons, and I argued that point, was that don't worry, we're not going to spend money. We're just going to look at this. And now we're budgeting $500,000. And I just feel we're doing it in reverse. I've never seen any time that we say we might do this, let's come up with the money. And so I'm just concerned that it's not a good optics for the discussions we're having with different people trying to figure this out, that we're already moving ahead.”
Commissioners Court · Aug 17, 2026
- Play at 6:04:07
“To me, it's the optics, Commissioner Coronado. It's almost like we don't know about this, but we have $500,000 somewhere. And we haven't even concluded what we're going to do. ESD feels very strongly that whatever we're doing, we're duplicating. We don't know if that's a fact. But I just feel like our constituents are sitting, oh, let me just grab $500,000 and see if maybe we might need that money. Typically, the way I've seen it is you make a plan, you make a decision, and then you try to figure out what the budget is for that decision that you've made. I don't think we're there yet to be…”
Commissioners Court · Aug 17, 2026
- Play at 6:05:56
“We'll call the vote. Cesar, you want to call the vote?”
Commissioners Court · Aug 17, 2026
- Play at 7:04:47
“Okay, thank you. Thank you. I'll second that.”
Commissioners Court · Aug 17, 2026
- Play at 8:20:15
“Well, thank you and welcome. I'll read my opening remarks. The county may not adopt a tax rate that exceeds the lower of the voter approval rate or the no new revenue tax rate calculated as provided by Texas Property Tax Code Chapter 26 until it has held a public hearing on the proposed tax increase. The tax rate proposed for El Paso County on August 3rd, 2026 is greater than the no new revenue tax rate. All persons, both proponents and opponents of the tax increase will be afforded adequate opportunity to present their views. Carmen?”
Commissioners Court · Aug 17, 2026
- Play at 8:43:36
“In accordance with Section 26.05 Texas Tax Code, the adoption of a tax rate for a unit of government must be voted on in two parts. One for the tax rate for the maintenance and operations of the governmental unit, and the second for the tax rate for the payment of principal and debt for the governmental unit. As such, I will read two motions into the record, each of which will require a vote. Motion number one. that the El Paso County Commissioner adopt the no new revenue tax rate for 2026 tax year. The no new revenue tax rate for El Paso County is a property tax rate of 0.451133 per 100…”
Commissioners Court · Aug 17, 2026
- Play at 9:01:19
“Thank you, Commissioner. I think one of the things that I would love the community to understand is that had we taken, you know, the gentleman that got up and talked about everything that was needed in their community, if we were to go with the voter approved rate it would be forty six million dollars that we would be able to work with to do the kinds of things that people expect from us so by not taking the the voter approved rate we have 46 million dollars less to do the things that people have discussed so i just want i mean i'm very proud of this commissioner's court because it's tempting…”
Commissioners Court · Aug 17, 2026
- Play at 9:04:00
“Thank you. Second motion is the El Paso County Commissioners adopt the no new revenue tax rate for the 2026 tax year. The no new revenue tax rate for El Paso County is a property tax of 0.451133 per 100 assessed value that consists of a rate of 0.062999 per 100 assessed value for the payment of principal and interest of the debts of El Paso County fiscal year 2027. And further to approve and authorize the county judge to execute an order indicating the same.”
Commissioners Court · Aug 17, 2026
- Play at 9:12:37
“Are there any questions that you would like for anything you'd like to ask for, Mr. I just want to take the opportunity to recognize that ex-mayor also of Horizon and just an advocate for a lot of things beyond Horizon. So we thank you for all your work at MPO and transportation and, you know, have a tremendous respect and appreciation for your knowledge. So I'm glad you're part of this process.”
Commissioners Court · Aug 17, 2026
- Play at 9:13:19
“Thank you. And now our Mayor, Mayor Renteria from Horizon. Thank you as well to be here with us.”
Commissioners Court · Aug 17, 2026
- Play at 9:17:24
“our staff here. Mayor, we thank you. I want to repeat myself, but every opportunity I have, the mayor was giving a presentation and everybody sees horizon, what they want to believe horizon is, right? Yes, sir. But horizon proper is very different from the perception that everybody else has. So a tremendous amount of the surrounding areas consider themselves horizon. And they use a lot of the facilities and they go to Horizon. And so we thank you because you're providing something way beyond where you're from. I mean, where your areas consist of. And so we thank you for that. And I think it's…”
Commissioners Court · Aug 17, 2026
- Play at 9:18:44
“And of course, Commissioner Olguin has first hand knowledge.”
Commissioners Court · Aug 17, 2026
- Play at 9:21:49
“Thank you. So Betsy, any direction here to...”
Commissioners Court · Aug 17, 2026
- Play at 9:22:26
“Agree. Well, thank you both. Thank you as well. Appreciate you.”
Commissioners Court · Aug 17, 2026
- Play at 9:23:01
“I did not expect this. I thought maybe...”
Commissioners Court · Aug 17, 2026
- Play at 10:13:12
“Thank you. I guess there's nothing better than organic growth, and we're always very pleased when we see and we have these discussions about what's going to happen in the future that we had some time back, and just to see that you continue to grow in El Paso is very fortunate for us as well. Thank you.”
Commissioners Court · Aug 17, 2026
- Play at 10:13:52
“Just the only other thing is that you didn't include yourself. So we also want to thank you, Roberto, for all your hard work and everything you've been doing. Thank you.”
Commissioners Court · Aug 17, 2026