Eagle Pass Texas News

Texas Border County Attorney’s Office Recovers $610,000 in Grant Funds After Former Auditor Attempted to Sabotage County Taxpayers

January 29, 2025 | by eaglepasstxnews.com

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The Maverick County Attorney’s Office has successfully recovered $610,000 in grant funds that were nearly lost due to what officials are calling a deliberate attempt to sabotage Maverick County taxpayers by former County Auditor Raul Trevino. The funds, which should have been reimbursed to the county by the state, were withheld after Trevino unilaterally refused to submit reimbursement requests. This decision could have forced local taxpayers to cover the financial shortfall, potentially putting essential public services, including law enforcement programs, at risk.

According to my source within the County Attorney’s Office, the refusal to submit reimbursement claims was not based on legal or financial necessity but rather on Trevino’s insistence on a cost allocation plan that had never been proposed, approved, or even discussed by the Maverick County Commissioners Court. Without such a formal policy in place, his justification for withholding reimbursement lacked any legitimate foundation.

This situation became particularly alarming because Operation Lone Star, a state-funded border security initiative, was one of the affected grants. This program provides crucial resources to local law enforcement agencies combatting illegal crossings, human smuggling, and cartel activity along the border. By refusing to secure these reimbursements, Trevino directly jeopardized public safety in Maverick County.

Had County Attorney Jaime Iracheta not intervened, local taxpayers would have been forced to cover the gap, raising serious concerns about financial oversight and accountability within Maverick County’s Auditors Office.

Did the Former Auditor Intentionally Undermine County Finances?

County Attorney Iracheta had previously challenged Trevino’s refusal, arguing that denying the county access to these funds had no legal basis. Despite this, Trevino remained firm in his stance, ultimately resigning unexpectedly, leaving behind a letter defending his decision.

My sources tell me that Trevino’s actions raise deeper questions. Was this an intentional attempt to undermine county operations? Did Trevino refuse to submit reimbursement requests for personal or political reasons? Why did he resign abruptly instead of defending his position in front of the Commissioners Court?

On the table was $610,000, County Attorney Iracheta who is the Project Director for the grant, Jaime “AJ” Iracheta took immediate action to reverse the damage left behind. They conducted a full reassessment of grant eligibility and expedited the submission of reimbursement requests. As a result, Maverick County successfully recovered the full amount, preventing a financial burden from falling on local taxpayers.

This rapid intervention not only secured the county’s rightful funding but also exposed the reckless decision-making that nearly cost Maverick County hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Accountability and Oversight Needed to Prevent Future Sabotage

The former auditor’s unilateral decision to block reimbursement requests without consulting the Commissioners Court has raised serious concerns about financial transparency and accountability within Maverick County. Without an approved cost allocation plan, there was no valid justification for withholding these funds, leaving Trevino’s true motivations in question.

His sudden resignation further complicates the situation. Instead of defending his actions in front of elected officials or the public, he walked away, leaving behind a mess that the County Attorney’s Office had to clean up. Should there be legal or financial consequences for such blatant mismanagement?

Maverick County residents deserve to know why this happened and what will be done to prevent it from happening again. Officials must ensure that one individual cannot single-handedly disrupt county finances and put critical public services at risk.

Stronger Policies Needed to Protect Taxpayer Dollars

While the recovery of these funds is a major victory, this incident has exposed weaknesses in county financial oversight. Moving forward, officials must implement stricter policies to prevent a single county official from obstructing funding without proper justification and oversight.

With border security, law enforcement, and essential county programs depending on state reimbursements, Maverick County cannot afford another financial sabotage attempt. The Commissioners Court will likely face pressure to investigate this issue further, ensuring that such a situation does not repeat itself.

Should county officials enact stronger policies to prevent financial sabotage in the future? Should there be accountability measures for those who refuse to follow established financial procedures?

The recovery of these funds is a win for taxpayers, but it also highlights the urgent need for reform. As Maverick County moves forward, residents will be watching to see whether officials take the necessary steps to protect taxpayer dollars and prevent financial mismanagement from happening again.

What do you think? Should there be an investigation into Trevino’s decision? Should Maverick County strengthen financial oversight policies? Stay informed as this story continues to develop.

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