Special to the NEWS
BROWNSVILLE, TX—Last week, the Cameron County Commissioners’ Court voted to adopt the County’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-2027 budget.
The adopted budget totals $265,252,780.55 and funds the core functions and services that Cameron County provides, including law enforcement, general county operations, roads and infrastructure, emergency management, public health and welfare, parks and beaches, and other essential county services.
Of the overall budget, approximately $148 million is allocated from the General Fund, which supports law enforcement, general administration, routine county government operations, health and welfare services, and operating transfers, according to a Cameron County press release.
The Special Road & Bridge Fund totals approximately $31.2 million in budgeted revenues and expenditures, representing a 17.59% increase over the previous year’s budgeted amount of approximately $26.6 million.
This work complements the coordinated efforts underway with the Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority on a $4 billion system of planned transportation projects across Cameron County and the Rio Grande Valley.
The FY 2026–2027 budget keeps the County’s property tax rate at $0.424393 per $100 of taxable value, the same rate as the previous fiscal year.
The rate remains below the no-new-revenue tax rate of $0.545920. Although the tax rate is unchanged, growth in property values means the County’s budget is expected to generate about $11.5 million more in property tax revenue than the previous year’s budget, an increase of about 8.36%.
Investing in Cameron County Employees
A major component of the FY 2026-2027 budget is continued investment in Cameron County employees. The budget provides a 5% salary increase for all full-time county employees, marking the fourth consecutive year the Commissioners’ Court has approved an across-the-board increase for county employees.
In addition, peace officers, detention officers, and dispatchers will receive a 10% salary increase for the second consecutive year.
These investments are intended to strengthen recruitment and retention and ensure that Cameron County remains competitive in attracting and retaining the workforce needed to provide essential public services.
Investing in Roads and Infrastructure
The budget provides ongoing resources for Cameron County’s extensive road and transportation system, including continued funding for the second road and pavement crew, which maintains and improves additional County roads. This additional crew enables the County to increase the number of road miles maintained each year and improve the efficiency of its road maintenance operations.
The Special Road & Bridge Fund’s approximately $31.2 million budget reflects a 17.59% increase over the prior year’s budget, providing additional resources for the County’s road and infrastructure responsibilities. These investments build on the County’s ongoing work to improve roads, maintain public infrastructure, and support continued community growth through additional roadway improvements throughout Cameron County.
Building on Progress
The FY 2026-2027 budget builds upon investments Cameron County has made in recent years to strengthen the services residents rely on every day. From maintaining and improving the County’s vast road network to supporting law enforcement, emergency management, parks, and beaches, the County continues to prioritize services that improve the quality of life for Cameron County residents.
“I want to ensure that we continue the ongoing projects we’ve been diligently working on these past several years, making sure they are maintained and well-funded while remaining fiscally responsible to the residents of Cameron County, despite inflation and the increasing cost of materials,” said County Judge Eddie Treviño, Jr. “Alongside that, we’re working to increase our fund balances, especially the General Fund and Road & Bridge Fund, to ensure the long-term financial viability of projects such as our continued investment in roadways and transportation corridors.”
The County’s transportation and bridge systems also continue to play an important role in the County’s financial stewardship. Investments and revenues associated with the County’s international bridge system (Veterans, Free Trade, and Gateway International Bridge Funds) help support County operations and have helped keep the County’s overall property tax rate lower than it otherwise might have been.
With the recent purchase of the Brownsville & Matamoros Bridge, which will soon be added to the County’s inventory, Cameron County will further strengthen its international bridge system, Treviño said.
This investment will help alleviate the tax burden, expand cross-border entry points for commerce and leisure, and strengthen coordination and relationships with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, he added.
According to the press release, the FY 2026-2027 budget reflects Cameron County’s continued effort to balance responsible financial management with investments in the people, infrastructure, and services that keep the County moving forward, including the development of a countywide Economic Development Corporation coalition in partnership with cities throughout the County.
This effort focuses on industry training to support the region’s growing economic sectors while maintaining communication and coordination with state and local leaders on regional growth. Additionally, the County continues to work alongside regional leaders and elected officials on healthcare, education initiatives, and larger regional water issues.
The 2026-2027 fiscal year will begin on October 1, 2026.
For the complete Cameron County FY 2026-2027 budget, please visit: https://tinyurl.com/CCTXBudget2026