Cameron County judge opposes tax breaks for proposed oil refinery in Brownsville

Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr. said he will not support tax incentives for a proposed oil refinery at the Port of Brownsville as the county prepares to vote on incentives for another major industrial project at the port. 

“And let me be clear on one more thing: I will not support tax incentives for this project,” Treviño said in a news release Thursday. “It should stand on its own, without asking taxpayers to subsidize it.”

Treviño’s comments come as he heads into a May runoff election against Port of Brownsville Chairman Esteban “Steve” Guerra, placing the refinery proposal at the center of a broader conversation about growth, infrastructure, and public investment.

Read more: The nation’s first new oil refinery in 50 years could be built in Brownsville, reviving a decade-old proposal

‘Transparency’

Treviño also questioned the port’s role in attracting the proposed investment and its transparency about the project. 

“If this project has truly been in the works for many years, it is fair for the citizens of Cameron County to ask why the community is only now hearing about it in such a sudden way,” Treviño said. “Projects of this magnitude do not happen overnight.”

But major industrial developments are often kept confidential in early stages due to land negotiations, permitting, financing, and competitive concerns before being publicly announced.

Still, port officials appeared taken aback after President Donald Trump announced the new refinery in a social media post earlier this month. 

Port officials, however, said the refinery project has been in the works for more than a decade. 

But the original plan was developed under a different company and the land at the port was leased years ago. 

The project appears to have gained traction in December, when the executives behind the original plan incorporated a new company: America First Refining — the company now leading the effort. 

The move allowed America First Refining to retain key environmental permits, including air permits approved in 2021 and a stormwater permit dating back to 2017, to move the project forward.

Read more: How the nation’s newest oil refinery could start construction in Brownsville sooner than expected

Incentives and an upcoming vote 

While Treviño drew a firm line against offering tax incentives for the proposed refinery, he is one of five members of the county commissioners court, where such agreements are ultimately decided by vote.

Any potential incentive package tied to the refinery would also likely involve multiple entities beyond the county, including school districts, cities, and economic development organizations.

Still, there has been no indication that the refinery developer has requested tax incentives from local entities at this point.

Treviño’s stance also comes as county commissioners prepare to consider a separate incentive deal for another major project at the Port of Brownsville.

Next week, commissioners are scheduled to vote on proposed tax abatements for Saronic Technologies Inc., an Austin-based defense technology company seeking to build a $3.2 billion manufacturing facility for autonomous maritime vessels.

It is unclear how much Saronic is seeking in tax abatements. The public notice does not outline the value, duration, or structure of the proposed incentives.

Read more: Point Isabel ISD approves $228M incentive deal for Port Alpha, a proposed $3.2B military boat hub