Your Questions Answered

Get the facts about Propositions A & B before you vote on May 4.

Two items are slated for the
May 4, 2024, election ballot.

Proposition A

• Create the Greater Brownsville Municipal Development District (MDD), a new special purpose district that can fund economic development, infrastructure projects as well as quality-of-life projects within the Brownsville city limits as well as just outside the city limits known as the extraterritorial jurisdiction or ETJ (city's growth area).

• The change has no impact on property taxes or existing City sales taxes.

• The sales tax in Brownsville is currently 8.25% and would not change for shoppers in the City.

• These measures do not involve any changes to property taxes.

• If voters approve both measures, then the sales tax for shoppers in the ETJ (city’s growth area) would increase from the current sales tax rate of 6.25% to 6.75%, which is effectively an increase of about five cents (0.05₵) on every $10 purchase.

Proposition B

• Would lead to the termination of the City's existing economic development non-profit agencies, the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation (BCIC) and the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation (GBIC).

What are examples that could be funded by a
Municipal Development District (MDD)?

Infrastructure improvements required or suitable for promotion or development of new or expanded businesses;
Recreation and community facilities such as community pools, trails, parks and recreation centers in areas throughout the City, as well as, in and around ETJ growth areas within Cameron County, such as Cameron Park, Villa Pancho, Reid Hope King, San Pedro, La Coma, and portions of Rancho Viejo and Olmito;
Business projects that create and retain jobs;
Promote new and expand business development for small and large businesses;
Convention center facilities; and
Job training required or suitable for the promotion of development and expansion of businesses.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is extraterritorial jurisdiction?

The extraterritorial jurisdiction, or ETJ, is the unincorporated area within Cameron County that is contiguous to the corporate boundaries of the City. The City’s ETJ expands 5 miles from Brownsville’s city limits (also called corporate limits) and ends at either another city’s corporate limits or ETJ. The Texas Legislature in 1963, created the concept of ETJ in order “to promote and protect the general health, safety, and welfare of persons residing in and adjacent to” cities, a sort of buffer zone outside of a city’s corporate limits. Tex. Loc. Gov’t. Code § 42.001. Essentially, the ETJ is the City’s growth area.

What changes would I see in the community if the MDD is created and the GBIC and BCIC are closed?

According to the state Comptroller’s Office, a uniform sales tax in both the city and ETJ would potentially increase funding for economic development and quality-of-life projects by $400,000 a year for projects in both the city and ETJ, the City’s growth area. This amount is estimated to increase with SpaceX and Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) development projects in the City’s growth area (ETJ).

What are quality-of-life projects?

Public park facilities and infrastructure, recreational facilities, trails, open space improvements, museums, exhibition facilities, and related multi-modal transportation facilities.

What does Brownsville do for economic development now?

Presently two City-created economic development non-profit organizations, Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation (GBIC) and the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation (BCIC) share a portion of sales tax revenue and fund projects within the Brownsville city limits but not in the ETJ (city’s growth area).

If I live in the ETJ (city’s growth area), will I have a voice in how the MDD operates?

The MDD will be governed by a board appointed by the City Commission. The board sets policy and performs other functions as per By-Laws adopted by the City Commission. This includes the hiring of a Chief Executive Officer whose primary role will be to handle MDD operations. Additionally, any resident registered to vote within the MDD would be eligible to vote in any future elections held by the MDD. Residents may also speak at the posted meetings during public comments.

How would sales taxes change in the ETJ (city’s growth area)?

These measures do not involve any changes to property taxes. If voters approve both measures, then the sales tax for shoppers in the ETJ (city’s growth area) would increase from the current sales tax rate of 6.25% to 6.75%, which is effectively an increase of about five cents (0.05₵) on every $10 purchase.

Who determines how the funds are spent?

The MDD Board must establish a budget for each year. Before adopting the budget, the Board must hold a public hearing on the proposed budget. (Brownsville’s MDD public hearing for the budget will be held during the regular Commission meetings and posted on City Commission Agendas.) The City Commission must approve the annual MDD budget.