Starr County Commissioners approve contracts, grants and budget amendments; executive session on salaries

The Starr County Commissioners Court took action on a series of routine but consequential items on Feb. 9, 2026, approving contracts, grant resolutions, budget amendments and minor donations.

Contracts and election services
- The court approved a contract to provide election services to the City of Rio Grande for May 2, 2026, with an estimated total cost of $17,900 and a staff request for a $10,000 prepayment; the contract had been reviewed by county staff.
- The court approved a separate contract to provide election services for a hospital facility on May 2, 2026; the estimated cost was cited at about $30,600 and the court discussed a higher prepayment recommendation during the motion.

Grants and resolutions
- The court approved a Criminal Justice Division (CJD) juvenile intervention grant application for FY27 (grant #3870308).
- The court approved an OP S G FY25 resolution for the sheriff (grant #3193411).
- The court approved a FY27 domestic violence assistance grant application and an additional CJD FY27 application related to the auditor's investigations.
- The court authorized resolution support for a county attorney investigator grant (grant #4019807) if awarded, and approved support for a Border Zones fire department grant application for La Casita Valley.

Budget and financial items
- The court approved budget amendments 22 through 28 en bloc after a motion to take them together.
- The court approved claims presented by the county auditor, accepted a donation of $75 from Domingos Auto and approved other routine vendor and procurement items.

Executive session and salaries
- The court entered executive session under Section 551.074 of Vernon's Annotated Texas Statutes to discuss order of salaries. Upon returning to open session at about 10:42 a.m., the court approved the salaries discussed in executive session by motion.

Voting and procedure
- Nearly all items were approved by motion and voice vote; the transcript records one commissioner abstaining on the final-subdivision tabling item but does not provide a roll-call vote for most items.

What’s next: Contracts and grants approved proceed to implementation steps where applicable; grant awards are contingent on the awarding agencies and budget amendments will be reflected in county records.