SCREENSHOT TAKEN BY ROBERT BENAVIDEZ JR. FROM A LIVESTREAM BY THE CITY OF BROWNSVILLE
Brigitte Ortiz | THE RIDER
The Financial Services department’s request to increase the formal solicitation threshold from $35,000 to $50,000 to enhance services to the community was approved during Tuesday’s Brownsville City Commission meeting.
Lupe Grenado, financial director, said the item was part of their 2020 work plan and intended to provide more efficiencies in the procurement operations.
Jose Perez, interim procurement contracting manager, said some of the benefits to increase the threshold are that they believe it will save time and effort to produce goods and services.
“It’s also going to minimize expenditure associated with procuring goods and services,” Perez said. “For example, the advertisement costs that are required in order for us to adhere to the local government rules and procurement.”
Other benefits include the value of inflation, facilitates one-time purchase, simplified acquisition process, adheres to the state threshold and allows the city to efficiently meet its existing obligations.
In other news, the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation presented its fiscal year 2021 budget to the city commission for approval.
From a combination of canceled memorandums of understanding, canceled performance agreements and not meeting performance agreements, GBIC saved $1.75 million this year.
This fiscal year’s budget is $3.3 million.
In addition to last year’s budget, new items are being added.
GBIC is requesting funding for 511 Industrial Park development and infrastructure in the amount of $1.4 million, job and work development and training for $250,000, space-related activities for $200,000 and professional studies for $100,000.
The Commission approved the budget.
