Primera residents speak out

PRIMERA - Residents Tuesday spoke up against a plan by aldermen to request that Harlingen annex the city.

After a one-hour public hearing, City Attorney William Wepher said the plan would need a 100-signature petition to request aldermen to call an election in which voters would decide the issue.

In Harlingen, the plan would also have to go to a vote, Wepher said.

"There's a whole lot of hurdles before you can see a vote on it," Wepher said.

Resident Tim Marx said he would start a petition drive.

But most of the 25 residents at City Hall spoke out against the plan for annexation.

"If it doesn't happen now, it will eventually happen - maybe five or 10 years from now," Alderman Pat Patterson told the crowd.

Alderman David Sanchez warned rising water bills would tighten pocketbooks.

"There are a lot of people on fixed incomes and water bills are going to get higher," Sanchez said. "Primarily, this (plan was initiated) to alleviate the tax bills and the water bills."

While Primera's tax rate stands at 69 cents per $100 valuation, Harlingen's is set at 59 cents.

But Alderman Joe Ramirez argued Harlingen would give residents poorer service.

"If you go with Harlingen, we're going to be on the back of the list," said Ramirez, a former mayor here.

For years, the sister cities have debated annexation.

Now, some local leaders want Harlingen to annex the city to help fund improvements to Stuart Place and Primera roads.

Harlingen officials estimate it could cost as much as $38 million to annex Primera, according to confidential Harlingen records obtained by the Valley Morning Star.

Harlingen would spend more than $30 million to improve roads that would include Stuart Place and Primera roads if it annexed the city, the report states.

Officials also estimate the city would spend $2.39 million to build, staff and equip a fire station if it annexed Primera, the report states.

But Harlingen could cut costs to $23 million if it postponed repair work on Stuart Place and Primera roads, the report states.

Primera, with a $1 million general fund budget, generates more than $424,000 in property tax revenue and $64,800 in sales tax revenue, the Harlingen report states.