County Judge· 2019-2026
Richard F. Cortez
Hidalgo County
No biography on file yet.
Voice
- Meetings spoken in
- 26
- Total speaking time
- 3:23:02
- Avg per meeting
- 7:49
- Segments
- 8630
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Top issues during term (20)
Drainage Infrastructure Bond Disbursements
Involves hundreds of thousands of dollars in contractor payments for bond-funded drainage projects.
County Infrastructure and Construction Projects
Authorizes major expenditures for engineering services and road construction change orders.
Property Tax and Budget Growth
Sets property tax bills and county spending levels for the upcoming fiscal year.
HCDD1 2027 Budget and 2026 Tax Rate Adoption
The 0.5691 total tax rate directly determines county property tax bills this year.
Establishment of Director of Business Finance and Economic Development
$170,000.00 annual salary plus benefits
Sheriff's Deputy Compensation
Potential budget adjustments for deputy salaries and benefits.
Urban County Street Improvements and Housing Demolition
Undisclosed; federal HOME program funds.
2027 Road and Bridge Budget
The proposed budget balances $53.9 million in available sources and uses for the Road and Bridge Fund.
General Election Personnel and Preparations
Operational expenses funded through elections department budgets and Chapter 19 funds.
Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Planning
General Fund revenues are estimated at $367.1 million for fiscal year 2027.
County Health Insurance Claim Reimbursement
About $1.04 million in county funds moved to cover insurance claims.
commercial development
You'll likely see a boost in local tax revenue, but keep an eye out for potential costs related to road repairs and traffic management.
Interlocal Cooperation Agreement with Regional Mobility Authority
RMA funds the work; county is paid ahead and reconciles.
Hike-and-Bike Trail Safety
Funded through previously allocated project budgets and grant funding sources.
County Health Insurance Plan Premiums for 2027
Premium rates affect county employees' paycheck deductions and the county's benefits budget.
Subdivision Plats and Infrastructure Development
Funded through state Colonia Fund grants to improve local subdivision infrastructure.
County Health Clinic Construction Projects
Adds $51,509.01 in ARPA-funded construction cost.
October Health and Safety Awareness Proclamations
None directly associated with ceremonial adoptions.
New Courthouse and Capital Improvement Projects
Involves multi-million dollar capital investments and construction contracts.
'PossAble Dream' Literacy Initiative Partnership
Funding amount not stated in the record.
Moved or seconded (19)
Motions Cortez personally put forward or seconded. Attribution comes from the minutes; where the minutes name somebody we cannot match to the roster we leave it out rather than guess, so this is a floor, not a total.
- secondedpassed 4-02026-05-12
On motion by COMMISSIONER PCT. 2, EDUARDO “EDDIE” CANTU, seconded by JUDGE, RICHARD F. CORTEZ, the Court made a UNANIMOUS vote of approval on agenda item 19.B.1.C., with L&G Engine…
- movedpassed 5-02026-05-12
On motion by JUDGE, RICHARD F. CORTEZ, seconded by COMMISSIONER PCT. 2, EDUARDO “EDDIE” CANTU , the Court made a UNANIMOUS vote of approval on agenda item 7.A.
- secondedpassed 5-02026-05-12
On motion by COMMISSIONER PCT. 3, “EVER” VILLARREAL, seconded by JUDGE, RICHARD F. CORTEZ, the Court made a UNANIMOUS vote of approval on agenda item 18.B.1.
- secondedpassed 5-02026-04-14
On motion by COMMISSIONER PCT. 3, “EVER” VILLARREAL, seconded by JUDGE, RICHARD F. CORTEZ, the Court made a UNANIMOUS vote of approval on agenda item 7.A.
- secondedpassed 2-02026-03-31
On motion by COMMISSIONER PCT. 2, EDUARDO –EDDIE— CANTU, seconded by JUDGE, RICHARD F. CORTEZ, the Court made a UNANIMOUS vote of approval on agenda item 24.B.3.
- movedpassed 3-02026-03-31
On motion by JUDGE, RICHARD F. CORTEZ, seconded by COMMISSIONER PCT. 3, EVERARDO –EVER— VILLARREAL, the Court made a UNANIMOUS vote of approval on agenda item 25.E.
- secondedpassed2026-03-17
On motion by COMMISSIONER PCT. 2, EDUARDO –EDDIE– CANTU, seconded by JUDGE, RICHARD F. CORTEZ, the Court made a UNANIMOUS vote of approval on agenda item 12.C.
- secondedpassed 2-02026-03-03
approval on agenda items 5.A.1,2,&3.
- secondedpassed 2-02026-03-03
approval on agenda items 4.A.2&3.
- secondedpassed 2-02026-03-03
approval on agenda items 3.A.1&2.
- secondedpassed 2-02026-03-03
approval on agenda item 3.A.5.
- secondedpassed 2-02026-02-17
Approval of Application for Payment No. 10 in the amount of $113,499.00 from Synergy Development & Construction pertaining to Construction Contract C-HCDD1-24-057-10-23 Mission McA…
- secondedpassed 2-02026-02-17
Approval of Application for Payment No. 7 in the amount of $111,674.08 from Mor-Wil, LLC pertaining to Construction Contract C-HCDD1-24-055-11-12 Southwest Weslaco. Project Engineer S2 Engineering PO#650124 8. 2023 Bond Referendum Projects: A
Title matched to the agenda, not quoted from the motion
- secondedpassed 2-02026-02-17
On motion by COMMISSIONER PCT. 3, EVERARDO –EVER” VILLARREAL, seconded by JUDGE, RICHARD F. CORTEZ, the Court made a UNANIMOUS vote of approval on agenda item 16.D.
- secondedpassed 3-02026-02-17
On motion by COMMISSIONER PCT. 1, DAVID FUENTES, seconded by JUDGE, RICHARD F. CORTEZ, the Court made a UNANIMOUS vote of approval on agenda item 22.B.
- secondedpassed 2-02026-02-17
On motion by COMMISSIONER PCT. 3, EVERARDO “EVER” VILLARREAL, seconded by JUDGE, RICHARD F. CORTEZ, the Board made a UNANIMOUS vote of approval on agenda item 3.A.
- secondedpassed 2-02026-01-27
Legal Counsel recommended a motion to approve real property acquisition as discussed in Closed Session.
- secondedpassed 3-02026-01-27
On motion by COMMISSIONER PCT. 4, ELLIE TORRES, seconded by JUDGE, RICHARD F. CORTEZ, the Court made a UNANIMOUS vote of approval on agenda item 22.C.
- movedpassed 4-02026-01-20
approval on agenda item 6.A.1
Decisions during term (1715)
Recorded while Cortez was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.
Consent agenda approval (all items)
Renewal of interlocal agreement with Hidalgo County Regional Mobility Authority (Item 6A)
Declaration of surplus field dirt for South Mercedes Lateral Improvement Project Phase 3 (Item 6C)
Possible Dream funding of $445,000
Proclamation: October 2026 as Down Syndrome Awareness Month (Item 4A)
Proclamation: City of Edinburg Cultural Arts District designation (Item 5)
Public hearing and amended LPPF rate resolution for Health Care Funding District (Items 2B/3)
Proclamation: UTRGV chess champion Gleb Dutting (Item 6)
Health and Human Services items 13A-13D
Sheriff's Office FY 2027 Operation Lone Star grant and VOCA continuation (Items 8A-8B)
Head Start items 14A-14B
District Clerk juvenile specialty court grants (Items 7A-7D)
Constable Precinct 1: deputy appointment and OLS grant (Items 9A-9B)
Constable Precinct 2 and 4 OLS grants (Items 10A, 11A)
Human Resources personnel items (Items 12A-12D)
Board reappointments (Item 15)
Precinct 1 land purchase and wellness center fees (Item 16)
Budget and Management items 17A-17C
Purchasing items 18A-18I
Driver standard policy update and 2027 holiday schedule (Items 19B-19C)
Voting record (53)
Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.