Mission

The mission of the Finance Department is to efficiently manage the financial operations of the City in accordance with state law and all applicable ordinances and policies of the City.

Functions

1. Keep in proper books, a full accurate account of all the moneys received and disbursed on behalf of the City, specifying the time of receipt and disbursement, from whom received and to whom disbursed, and on what account received and disbursed, and how paid.
2. Cancels all warrants and other evidences of debt against the City.
3. Receive and have custody of all moneys paid to the City and shall disburse City moneys in accordance with City policy.
4. Pay City employees upon presentation of the properly certified payroll.
5. Demand and receive all moneys and fees owing to the City whenever any person is indebted to the City in any manner and the means of collection of such debt if not otherwise provided for by law.
6. Coordinate all activity with the City Depository.
7. Make a monthly report to Board of Aldermen as to the business of office during the month preceding, showing the balances on hand to the credit of the different funds at the time of the last report, the amounts received during the month, and on what account, together with such other items and facts as the Board of Aldermen may require.
8. Prepare estimates of revenue, and shall give such other assistance in the preparation of the budgets as may be required by the Administrator.
9. Keep all general accounts of the City government and of the respective departments, offices, boards, commissions and institutions thereof.
10. Be charged with the custody of the official bonds of the City employees, except her own, which shall be in the custody of the City Secretary, and with the custody of all deed, mortgages, contracts, judgments, notes, debts, and chooses in action.  Keep and administer all securities, bonds, or other forms of negotiable instruments owned by or belonging to the City.

Public Notices

• Notice of Public Hearing on Budget
• Notice of Vote on Tax Rate
• Notice of Public Hearing on Tax Increase

Purchasing

Throughout the year, Rio Grande City contracts private and non-profit organizations for a variety of supplies, materials and professional services. Procurement Notices for interested vendors are typically found in the City’s official newspaper, (The Rio Grande City Herald), the region’s daily newspaper (The Monitor) or on this Internet site.

• Procurement Notices
• Requests for Qualifications (RFQ)
• Requests for Proposals (RFP)

           Request for Proposals for Depository Contract

• Requests for Bids (RFB)

The City also participates in a number of cooperative purchasing programs to obtain the most competitive prices for goods and services.  These cooperative purchasing programs include: 

• Houston-Galveston Area Council Cooperative Purchasing Program
• Texas Building & Procurement Commission Cooperative Purchasing Program
• Texas Municipal League Buy Board

The City of Rio Grande does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age or disability in employment or provision of services, programs or activities. Small, minority, and women business enterprises are encouraged to submit Statements of Qualifications (SOQ) as required by RFQs or proposals as required by RFPs. The City of Rio Grande is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Programs

Municipal Budget:  The Finance Department is primarily responsible for developing the Municipal Budget.  More information on the budget process and a copy of our present municipal budget is available at the Budget page of this Internet site.

Municipal Budget for Fiscal Year 2007

Proposed Municipal Budget Fiscal Year 2008

Sales Tax Filing:  If you are required to pay sales taxes, the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts' WebFile program enables taxpayers to electronically file and pay sales tax returns via the Internet.  You may obtain more info at WebFile Sales Tax.

Links

• Audit Report 2005
• Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA)
• Government Finance Officers Association of Texas (GFOAT)
• Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB)
• Texas Purchasing Management Association (TPMA)

Director

Mary Barrera is the Finance Director for the City of Rio Grande. She graduated from Mercedes High School and earned a Bachelor in Business Administration from the University of Texas-Pan American in 1986. She obtained her Certificate of Public Accountancy in June 1999 and is currently licensed as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).  Barrera has also completed the curriculum of the Utility Management Institute (UMI) through the University of the Incarnate Word.  

Previous employment experience includes seven years with the County Clerk's Office of Fort Bend County, three years of public accounting and auditing for the accounting firm Jose A. Hinojosa, CPA in Rio Grande City.  She resides in Falcon Heights, Texas with her two children and is a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church.

Contact

Mary Barrera

Finance Department

101 South Washington Street

Rio Grande City, Texas 78582-4415

Off:  956/487-0672

Fax:  956/716-8899

top