C'MON JIM, GIVE CREDIT WHERE AND WHEN CREDIT IS DUE

By Juan Montoya

We have read the Brownsville Herald account of the tax abatements that Cameron County Commissioners Court voted for Rio Grande LNG. http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/local/article_cd5e15ce-a8a4-11e7-9f8b-276f42ea4f49.html

And we have read blogger Jim Barton's version, which is at odds with the local daily claiming that a unanimous approved the  http://brownsvilleobserver.blogspot.com/2017/10/cameron-county-commissioners-give-rio.html

Barton (and blogger Jerry McHale who reposted the story http://themchalereport.blogspot.com/) included a picture of Cameron County Eddie Treviño along with the story indicating the judge had voted for the abatements.

Actually, Treviño was the only one on the court who voted against the abatements.

The Herald story reads: "In a 4-1 decision, Cameron County has elected to give Rio Grande LNG tax abatements. County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr. was the only dissenting vote."

Barton correctly questions why the Herald did not list the amount of abatements involved in the vote. He asks: 

"Why in the hell did the Brownsville Herald do a front page story about the county's decision to issue the tax abatements WITHOUT including the actual amount of the tax forgiveness? Boys and girls, again, it's $373,100,000 your commissioners are giving this multi-billion-dollar firm to locate at the Port of Brownsville.

Of the $37 million in remaining tax obligations, the commissioners court is kindly allowing Rio Grande LNG to forego another $10 million in tax in lieu of so-called "community benefits." Thus, out of an estimated $410 million in tax obligations, the county will receive only $27 million or 6  percent of what the company would owe, more precisely .06585 of their fair share."

These are fair questions and Barton (and McHale) have the right to put the daily (and the county commissioners') feet to the fire. But both used Treviño's picture to give the impression that he was in favor of the vote.

Our seven readers know we have had our differences with Da county judge in the past, most particularly about his role in the $500 million Tenaska boondoggle that has never come to be despite the increase in utility rates. We expect we will have differences with him on other issues as time goes on.

But fair is fair and they should note that Treviño actually sided with the county taxpayers on the Rio Grande LNG tax abatement issue.