Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González
With over 26 years of public service behind him, County Judge Eloy Vera took the stage at the 2025 State of the County to deliver a powerful message: Starr County is not just progressing but transforming. Addressing a packed audience of residents, elected officials, and community leaders, Judge Vera presented a comprehensive picture of economic growth, infrastructure investments, and institutional milestones that signal a new era for the South Texas county.
“I want to thank the people of Starr County for trusting me to work for you. It has been a tremendous honor and privilege,” Judge Vera said. “You are the driving force that propels us every day to provide a better way of life.”
Judge Vera began by highlighting the cultural richness of the evening, thanking Roma High School’s Conjunto Los Cardenales and Rio Grande City’s Mariachi Cascabel for their vibrant performances. He thanked South Texas College for their technical contributions and the Starr County Industrial Foundation for organizing the event. But beyond the celebration, his report was grounded in substance.
Among the county’s signature achievements is the launch of a county-wide broadband project designed to bring high-speed internet to all residents, including those in rural areas. “Connectivity is no longer a luxury,” Vera emphasized. “It is a fundamental need for education, business, and healthcare.”
The judge also provided updates on a long-awaited renovation of the historic county courthouse. Phase one, estimated at $9.2 million, will address infrastructure upgrades like roofing, HVAC, and ADA compliance, backed in part by a $2.3 million federal grant secured by Congressman Henry Cuellar. “Due to delays in Washington, we’ve decided to move forward with a conventional loan,” Vera said, noting that Starr County will not raise taxes for the project. “We simply cannot afford to wait any longer.”
In a recorded message from Washington, D.C., Congressman Cuellar praised the county’s leadership. “Together, we’re making a lasting difference in Starr County because we’ve made people the priority,” he said. Cuellar detailed several critical investments, including $2.5 million for the Rio Grande Public Safety Building, $5 million for the historic Roma Suspension Bridge restoration, and infrastructure funding for clean water access and highways. “Starr County has done more with USDA funding than any other in my district,” he added.
Judge Vera echoed the importance of this support, particularly for the Roma Suspension Bridge. “This project has been two decades in the making,” he said. “We are finally on the verge of restoring a cultural landmark that will serve as a pedestrian crossing and expand import-export lanes.”
A new Juvenile Detention Center is also in the pipeline. Estimated at $6.7 million and already fully funded, the center will offer courtrooms, classrooms, and support services. “I call the current facility ‘the dungeon’ because that’s what it feels like,” Vera said, emphasizing the dignity and safety the new center will provide for youth and staff.
Healthcare saw a major breakthrough with the DHR Medical Complex, which is now under development. This new facility will bring specialty clinics and a doctor residency program to Starr County. “This is a game changer,” said Vera. “The idea that we’d host a residency program in our county was once unthinkable.”
Throughout his address, Vera reiterated a key message: financial responsibility. Starr County now has over $31.2 million in the bank, including a significant fund balance. Since 2020, the county’s tax rate has decreased by nearly seven cents. “That’s nearly a 10% drop,” Vera noted. “While other entities are raising taxes, we are cutting them.”
Each of the county’s four precinct commissioners also reported tangible improvements in their respective communities. Precinct One Commissioner Jose Francisco “Kiko” Perez focused on road and drainage upgrades and support for the elderly through nutrition centers. “No one in our community should go hungry,” he said, pointing to expanding food pantries and brush collection programs.
Precinct Two Commissioner Raul “Roy” Peña III emphasized the role of community services and infrastructure investments. “Education, health, and support are at the heart of what we do,” he said, detailing improvements to libraries, fire departments, and road systems in Roma and neighboring areas.
Commissioner Eleazar Velasquez, representing Precinct Three, centered his message on upgrading public parks, repairing critical roads like El Pinto Road, and expanding senior services. “Precinct Three is moving forward with safer homes, better parks, and stronger community services,” Velasquez said.
Precinct Four Commissioner Hernan Garza outlined improvements that ranged from new roads and emergency response equipment to a new public cemetery and restroom facilities. “We are working hard to build a safer, stronger, and more connected Precinct Four for everyone,” Garza said.
Also taking the spotlight was the Starr County Industrial Foundation (SCIF), whose report illustrated the county’s surging economic momentum. Over $500 million in new foreign and domestic investment has entered Starr County in the past two years, driven by robust commercial, industrial, and renewable energy development. “We are no longer preparing for the future—we are building it,” the SCIF leadership declared in their presentation.
The ports of entry—Starr-Camargo International Bridge and Starr County International Bridge—were acclaimed for generating nearly $1 billion annually for the state and national economies. Renewable energy projects boosted the tax base and employment opportunities, while the Roma Industrial Park continues to serve as a growth hub.
In his closing remarks, Judge Vera reaffirmed his belief in the power of unity and public service. “Starr County is strong, and we are being transformed by unity,” he said. “We are certainly poised and ready for tomorrow.”
