CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — City Council voted Tuesday to delay further funding for the Inner Harbor desalination project — so some council members can get some clairty.
Councilmember Carolyn Vaughn penned a letter to the Texas Water Develoment Board. Co-signed by Eric Cantu, Sylvia Campos, and Gil Hernandez, it reportedly asked several questions, namely could the funds be redirected toward alternative water supply options. It also sought clarity on loan repayment terms and the availability of additional grant funding.
During Tuesday’s meeting, Cantu introduced a motion to pause the project for 30 days, giving the State time to formally respond.
But, they already had an answer to one of the questions. In a letter sent to Mayor Paulette Guajardo, State Rep. Juan Hinojosa said that repurposing SWIFT funds is frowned upon.
Hernandez, one of the four signatories, said the city must weigh the long-term cost. “I’d rather walk away from $27 million than spend $1.2 billion,” he said. “This is a generational decision. You put a billion dollars on the backs of residents… they’ll be paying it off for 30 years.”
Mayor Paulette Guajardo opposed the pause. While she acknowledged her colleagues want clarity from the state, she warned the delay could come at a steep price.
“Put your pencils down — over 100 engineers have to stop working,” Guajardo said. “That’s going to cost the ratepayer five to ten million dollars.”
City Council is expected to revisit the matter at its Aug. 26 meeting, though Hinojosa’s response may narrow what options are left on the table.
*This story was originally reported on air by a journalist, but AI was used to assist in content generation.
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