CAMERON COUNTY: SOUTHMOST TAX OFFICE 45 PERCENT COMPLETE, COMPLETION EXPECTED AT END OF 2023

 Special to El Rrun-Rrun

Cameron County Tax Assessor-Collector Tony Yzaguirre remembers having to go from his Southmost-area home on 27th Street downtown to the county building on Harrison Street to make his elderly mother's property tax payments or renew his license plates.

In fact, for many years, it was the only place where residents could do their tax business. After he became the county's tax assessor-collector, Yzaguirre set about to establish satellite offices across the county and in collaboration with banks and other municipal entities, provided access to tax office services to residents with no less than 10 offices countywide.

"It was like bringing the mountain to Muhammad, or in this case, the mountain to the barrio," he

commented during a tour of the newest satellite multi-purpose tax and county office in his old neighborhood where his mother still resides. "It will not only provide access for tax office matters, but to the rest of the county services as well. It had been due for many years."

During a recent inspection of the construction of the new tax office located adjacent to Cromack School and fronting Southmost Blvd., Yzaguirre and Cameron County Pct. 1 Commissioner Sofie Benavides toured the site located at 3000 Southmost. 

"It is about 45 percent complete and we expect that – weather permitting – should open its doors to serve the public by the end of this year," Yzaguirre said. "Southeast Brownsville has been the fastest-growing area in the city for years and these services were badly needed. Thanks to the commissioners court, and commissioner Benavides who represents this area in particular, it is finally coming true."

"This new tax office had been a badly needed for years, and we were happy to help Tony work to bring these services to our area," Benavides said. "It will provide convenience and service to all county residents, not just those who live in the Southnost area. We're happy to see it become a reality."  

The groundbreaking ceremony for the new building was held October 21, 2022 and will cover 3,597 square feet situated on a 1.31-acre tract at a cost of $2.82 million. 

The land was donated to Cameron County by the City of Brownsville and the Brownsville Independent School District. The project had been in the works since February 208 when the Southmost water tower was demolished by the Brownsville Public Utilities Board.

The tax office will consist of three drive-through lanes, five teller stations inside, seating capacity for 52 customers, and a state-of-the-art ticketing system to serve customers. 

It will collect current and delinquent property taxes, allow payment agreements for all delinquent accounts, payments for individuals over 65 years of age, title transfers, motor vehicle renewals, Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission license renewals for liquor, wine, and beer, collections for new and used-car dealership vehicle inventory tax, as well as marriage license through the Cameron County Clerk's Office.

Additionally, the lobby area will include two kiosk work stations, one for the county clerk and another for the Cameron County District Clerk's Office for services such as obtaining deed records and/or court record information.

"Bringing county services to my old neighborhood has been personally rewarding to me, just as establishing these services to our other county communities and municipalities," Yzaguirre said. "God and the weather willing, we should be in operation at the end of the year."