Encinal City Council In Texas Lacked Quorum To Pass Fiscal Annual Budget, All City Services Including Policing Will Cease To Operate On October 1st

The Encinal City Council failed to get quorum on Thursday before the State mandate to approve a fiscal annual budget expired.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

September 30, 2023

Encinal, Texas - On Thursday, Encinal Police Chief Pablo Balboa III confirmed that the Encinal Police Department (EPD) will cease all operations on October 1st, according to a EPD Facebook (FB) post. Chief Balboa stated that it was out of his hands and apologized to the citizens that the EPD serves. FB link: https://tinyurl.com/4azpnw3z

It also included an attached press release by Encinal Mayor Esmeralda Arce announcing that all city-wide services, which includes Police, Municipal Sanitation pick-up, and City offices will all be closed on October 1, 2023 as of 12:01 a.m. until further notice.

The 5 member City Council failed to get a quorum on Thursday (2 out of 5 Council members were present including the mayor) before the State mandate to approve a City's annual fiscal operating budget expired.

The City Council will have a Special Meeting on Monday, October 2, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. to vote on the pending annual fiscal budget 2023-2024, according to Velma Davila, the City Manager. Davila posted a Special Meeting session notice on Friday. FB link: https://tinyurl.com/5n6cvfds

If no agreement or quorum  is reached on Monday night, then the City services will remain closed until an agreement is reached, according to City officials.

It will be the first time Encinal City services will cease to operate since, it was established in 1883. The City is located in La Salle County.

As of 2023, Encinal has a population of 541 with a majority of Mexican-Americans surpassing Whites and other.

Full City of Encinal press release:

Please be advised that City Hall will be closed on Monday, October 2, 2023 and until further notice.  City of Encinal will cease city services which include:  Police, Municipal, Sanitation pick-up and City offices as of October 1, 2023 at 12:01 am.   

On Thursday, September 28, 2023 the City of Encinal held a Regular Meeting to approve the annual fiscal year budget.  A quorum could not be reached at the meeting held on Thursday as only Mayor Esmeralda Arce, Council Members Oscar Aldaco and Yrma Arizola were present. Prior to this meeting the City had conducted three budget workshops to give Council and Citizens the opportunity for input in our yearly budget. 

 

As a result, the City could not meet the State mandated deadline for budget approval.  Therefore, no services can be provided and the city must remain closed until such time as a budget can be adopted for the 2023/2024 Fiscal Year.

Mayor Esmeralda Arce apologizes in advance for any inconvenience this closure will cause for our community.