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Wednesday, February 28, 2001
Commissioners may fight Truan's port plan
Borchard says including San Pat may hike taxes
By Jason Ma
Caller-Times

Borchard

The plan to open up leadership at the Port of Corpus Christi to San Patricio County may hit rough waters today as the Nueces County Commissioners Court considers a resolution opposing state legislation that would diminish the influence of the commissioners' appointees.
   Judge Richard Borchard introduced the item on the agenda, because he said there is a possibility that the inclusion of San Patricio County could mean higher taxes in both counties.
   "If the port expands, there's going to be a demand for additional infrastructure," he said. "You can't annex an area without making improvements. That's going to cost money, a tax levy."
   He said additional infrastructure could include more bulkheads and roads, for example.
   Port Executive Director John LaRue was unavailable for comment Tuesday.
   The commissioners court meets at 9 a.m. today at the Nueces County Courthouse.
   State Sen. Carlos Truan, D-Corpus Christi, filed the legislation Feb. 21. Senate Bill 821 would add one port commissioner from San Patricio and another from the city of Corpus Christi.
   The port commission is made up of four commissioners appointed by Nueces County and three appointed by the City of Corpus Christi.
   When Truan first announced his plan in December, Borchard said he would not oppose the bill. But he said Tuesday that because he is not a legislator, he does not have the power to oppose the bill.
   Truan's legislative aide Vick Hines said the port generates enough of its own revenue so that taxes are unnecessary. Borchard spent the day in Austin Tuesday visiting with legislators.
   Hines said the port has managed to avoid levying a tax in the past, and plans to do future projects, such as the Joe Fulton International Trade Corridor and the container cargo port, without raising taxes.
   "This has been a self-supporting port," he said. "They planned expansion based on the assumption that this will be a non-taxing port. New construction will happen with or without San Patricio County."
   Truan said his proposal would help expand the Port of Corpus Christi's influence.
   "It will allow for a better working relationship," he said. "It is my hope that the port will get back to what they have a reputation for, concentrating on the trade and economics for the region."
   Truan's chief of staff, Blanca Laborde, said part of the reason for having a port commissioner from San Patricio County is that the port's planned expansion is in San Patricio County.
   The 1,000-acre La Quinta property on the north side of the bay is being considered for development as a container terminal. San Patricio County is also the home of large port industries such as OxyChem and DuPont.
   Also, the La Quinta Channel branches from the main ship channel, along Ingleside toward Portland, both in San Patricio County.
   Hines noted that voters in San Patricio County would have to approve the port commission's inclusion of their own member, with the understanding that the port has the authority to levy taxes.
   "I have a responsibility to San Patricio County as well as Nueces County," Truan said.
   Borchard said the resolution would not be binding, but if it passes it would send a message to Truan on how the county feels.
   County Commissioner David Noyola said he supports the inclusion of San Patricio County into the port commission, because the county needs the representation.
   "We deal with industry near the border of the two counties," he said. "We work very closely with San Patricio County."
   He doubted that there will be new infrastructure needs because the existing facilities are enough.
   Robert Gonzalez, vice chairman of the port and a county appointee to the board, said including a port commissioner from San Patricio County could harm its residents.
   He said he is concerned that if there is a tax increase, San Patricio County would not be adequately represented.
   "I believe it would be taxation without effective representation," he said. "Will San Patricio County residents be taxed for only one commissioner?"

Staff writer Sara Lee Fernandez contributed to this report. Staff writer Jason Ma can be reached at 886-3778 or by e-mail at maj@caller.com

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