Rate Hike Risk for City Fees and Electricity

Chief Accountant and Budget Analyst, Flavio Aguilar, put together the Schedule of Fees & Charges presentation.

Look out for more cost increases on the horizon, by municipal and Investor-Owned Utility (IOU) service providers like American Electric Power (AEP). A Special City Council meeting was held to review the City of Del Rio Schedule of Fees & Charges on June 17, 2025. They are currently in revision and fees will be presented to Council for approval and adoption within the next several weeks. Finance Director Linda Coones explained why some fees are increasing 50% or 100% or more.

Coones said, “I looked back to 2007 ordinances where the fees have not changed, almost 20 years rates have not been raised.” City Council questioned many of the proposed fee increases, and department heads were given time to explain. With the proposed fee structure, some city services that were operating at a loss will now break even. Council members expressed “philosophical points” and concerns for low-income constituents.

Finance Director Linda Coones reviewed City Ordinances back to early 2000s.

Most changes to fees were increases. Temporary food establishment permits are proposed to increase from $50 to $75. Childcare facility permits are proposed to increase from $125 to $160. And road barricade rentals (per 4 units) are proposed to increase from $15 to $60.

But some fees may decrease, for quality of life. An issue once brought to Council by the Del Rio Little League has been addressed, and the scoreboard controller fee will become a no-fee service with a $250 deposit. The public pool senior citizen pass is proposed to decrease from $20.00 to $15.00. And the "weekday walking rate" for San Felipe Springs Golf Course is proposed to be removed entirely.

Streets Department proposed fee changes, shown in yellow

Garage sale permit fees will stay the same $5 as before. The council also spent a while debating proposed changes to event-related fees. Councilperson James DeReus and Mayor Al Arreola requested the Joe Ramos Center deposit fee not be changed until improvements are made to the facility. The nighttime event deposit had been proposed to increase from $100 to $400.

City Manager Shawna Burkhart took the opportunity to announce potential existing funding for Joe Ramos Center improvements. Burkhart said to City Council: “I will be working shortly to propose that the 9 million dollars for city hall facilities be utilized for not just renovating our current city hall but for possibly doing obviously Joe Ramos restrooms, etc., but that has not been approved yet, but that is coming before you in short order.”

Joe Ramos Center proposed fee changes shown in yellow

Some fees are brand new, like the “euthanasia fee” at the animal shelter, which now provides an affordable end-of-life option for pet owners. This is one cost saving option being introduced to the fee schedule. Development department is making improvements on building and inspection fee structure, to help improve processes. Operations and Compliance Manager Scot Carcasi said inspection fees were being changed to prevent “having to return 6 or 7 times because they wouldn’t fix it.” Now any inspection or reinspection is $100, no matter what.

Operations and Compliance Manager Scot Carcasi

The fee review project was split up between each department head, such as admin, animal, governmental, and development services. City staff were given time to review the document and make changes before the next council meeting. Mayor Al Arreola thanked all the department heads and said, “we asked you guys to modernize.” He appreciated the directors and citizens help in “keeping our city where we are supposed to be” Arreola added a final comment, saying “we are taking baby steps to increase something that we have never done before, that we need to do…”

In the suing days, citizens raised concerns over the rising cost again and again across various public meetings. The same issue was discussed during the Main Street Board meeting on Wednesday June 25 and were mentioned to Councilperson James DeReus during his Town Hall… cost of security service requirements for public events, especially in regard to nonprofit organizations. Members cited the strain put on fundraising proceeds when production cost begins to creep up.

Tuesday’s Regular City Council meeting agenda for June 24 revealed a clue that electricity rates likely will go up too. However, the city has limited influence over power service. The third item on the June 24 Executive Session notes read: “contemplated litigation: AEP rate hike.” The City Council consulted with the city attorney to discuss their options against AEP; no action was taken.

Del Rio News Network reported on AEP’s intentions for Val Verde County, in April 2025. Read more about AEP here: Texas Power Grid Reliability Plan Impact on Val Verde County.

The City of Del Rio Schedule of Fees & Charges review occurred consecutively with a Water and Sewer Rate increase. Read more about Water and Sewer here: Water and Sewer Rates Going Up - It’s Official

Chief Accountant and Budget Analyst, Flavio Aguilar, put together the budget presentation. Aguilar said, once adopted, the fees will start October 21, 2025. A study of rates was conducted and based in other cities in surrounding areas. See full list of proposed City of Del Rio Schedule of Fees & Charges here: A Special City Council June 17 Agenda