Speakers press court on certificates of obligation and county attorney-fee spending

NUECES COUNTY — Public comment at the May 24 commissionersourt included pointed appeals on county finance and legal spending.

Michael Ritgers, a resident of Corpus Christi, addressed the court about a proposed certificate of obligation tied to the Nueces County Hospital District. "Certificates of obligation ... were not designed to fund the building of a $45,000,000 project within the Nueces County Hospital District without voter approval," Ritgers said, adding a 40-year amortization at the rates cited would roughly double the cost when interest is included.

Victoria Holland spoke about a separate item — an attorney-fee proposal connected to the defense of the county istrict attorney — and asked commissioners to ensure fiduciary scrutiny and parity with county attorney hourly rates. "My concern is simply this: any lawyer put up for the defense of Mark Gonzales did so, I assume, under the understanding that he would be acting in the capacity of a public defender," Holland said. She urged the court to verify hourly rates and background documentation in any proposal before authorizing county funds.

Court response: commissioners acknowledged the comments and noted that the items raised — certificates of obligation and any attorney-fee expenditures — are subject to separate agenda processes and legal review. No immediate votes were taken on those specific public comments; commissioners referred funding and contract items to the appropriate agenda or to staff for follow-up.

Why it matters: both topics raise questions about fiscal accountability and public approval of long-term debt and of county-funded legal defense. Commissioners indicated they would consider those concerns in follow-up briefings and formal agenda items.

Ending: commissioners thanked the speakers and asked staff to ensure background information and supporting documentation are available on future agendas where the matters will be considered.