Cameron County Commissioners Court moves forward with next step in LNG tax break application

BOCA CHICA, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Cameron County Commissioners Court unanimously voted to move forward with a public forum that could write off taxes for Rio Grande LNG.

The meeting was held at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday where members from the South Texas Environmental Justice Network used the public comment portion of the forum to speak out against the LNG tax abatement application.

Although the commissioners court voted to move forward with item F under the Consent Items portion of the agenda, this does not mean they have decided to support or deny the tax abatement.

Tuesday's unanimous vote was a step forward in the commissions process to vote on the tax abatement. Tuesday's approval allows the court to issue a 30 day notice for a public hearing where the community may address the item.

Bekah Hinojosa, a member of the South Texas Environmental Justice Network, believes LNG companies should pay their taxes.

Hinojosa says LNG plants are not safe and can cause serious disasters to the local community.

"An LNG company should have to pay their fair share of taxes just like you and me and if they don't pay their taxes that's just adding insult to injury," she said.

The next Cameron County Commissioner's Court meeting is scheduled for May 7.