From the Laredo Morning Times
Webb County is scrambling to find $400,000 after a grant they were expecting to be approved fell through.
The county was seeking a state-administered grant for its Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program. The funds, dispersed by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, or TDHCA, were intended to assist low-income families in the payment of utilities and to provide energy efficiency education to the community at-large.
The amount of money the county expected to receive from the 2010 grant was around $500,000. Based on those expectations, the county had spent $400,000 on energy assistance and efficiency education by the time the grant was refused by the state agency.
Webb County Auditor Leo Flores revealed the budget shortfall on Wednesday at the monthly board of district judges meeting.
In a letter dated Jan. 16, TDHCA formally denied the county’s request for reimbursement.
Since the Jan. 16 letter, all county programs associated with the grant have been suspended indefinitely.
To appeal the rejection, Webb County Judge Danny Valdez and county Economic Development Director Hector Vargas spoke Friday with Michael DeYoung, deputy director of customer service for TDHCA.
Valdez said it was a blow to learn the county would not be reimbursed.
“We didn’t do it right and we got in trouble; this time we did it right and we still got in trouble,” Valdez said, referring to Webb County grants that the state de-obligated in 2010 following the mismanagement of the Community Action Agency’s weatherization program.
Vargas said discrepancies in correspondence with the state point to TDHCA being at fault in the rejection.
Obviously our Webb County judge Danny Valdez lacks the foresight and intellect necessary to fulfill the requirements to be an effective contributor that his position demands, I would include as well, most, if not all of the commissioners that went along with this! It's beyond belief that these very people who "humbly" asked for your vote are the people who now could care less about ethics and will spend your money with careless disregard for how they spend it. Get Involved and Make a Difference, if not quit bitching!!!--B.T.
ReplyDeleteWell at least the commissioners are getting a free trip to Austion out of this-to try to correct this. Valdez claims it's definitely the state's fault. I reserve the right to fully exercise my constitutional right to "bitch". I would venture to say that's a form of getting involved. Let's see what they come back with from the state capitol.
ReplyDeleteWell said, Max. B.T.
DeleteWho is Hector Vargas?
ReplyDelete"To appeal the rejection, Webb County Judge Danny Valdez and county Economic Development Director Hector Vargas spoke Friday with Michael DeYoung, deputy director of customer service for TDHCA."
Is this the same Hector Vargas that is running the logistic cities event costing the city of Laredo about $150,000?
If so, talk about double dipping!