How easy is it for Starbase to become a city?: What could happen after the election

MCALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Rio Grande Valley is less than two weeks from potentially having a new city as people who live in "Starbase," also known as Boca Chica Village, head to the polls to vote on whether or not the community will become an incorporated city.

Attorney Robert Drinkard says establishing a tax rate and a budget are the first things any new city must do in efforts to establish basic services and zoning plans.

“You've got to get a tax base together," Drinkard said. "You gotta get money together, and that doesn't happen overnight.”

The city is also not made official until the county certifies the election results.

“The county judge would need to enter an order into the commissioner's court that the community is now incorporated, and then that incorporation becomes effective on the date that the order is entered," he added.

General law cities do not need a charter, but they must work to establish basic services for their residents.

“Right out of the gate, they're probably going to need to contract with the county, because I seriously doubt they're going to be up and running fast enough to put in, you know, I could be wrong, but put in their own police force and be able to respond to emergencies," Drinkard said. "So typically, with a new incorporation, they contract with the county for that in the beginning and then kind of move into developing their own services.”

Drinkard says this can take months or years as cities continue to grow. However, he believes Starbase is very organized and believes SpaceX is helping in the process.

However, just like with any city, he believes other issues could soon pop up.

“It's another governmental entity that's now imposing another set of regulations," Drinkard said. "Regulations, just like anywhere you may get, you know, conflicting regulations with the county, or, you know, could get at odds with the county, particularly, maybe with this road closure thing."