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139th District Court
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You'll have to call the District Clerk's Office at (956) 318-2200. |
398th District Court
Adult Probation Services
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A type of community supervision. If the conditions of supervision are met for the time period set by the court the charge will be dismissed and no record of conviction is made. However, the records of the arrest, prosecution and community supervision are not expunged as a result of the dismissal. |
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An intensive six-month therapeutic community program (nine-month program for offenders with special needs) for offenders who are sentenced by a judge as a condition of community supervision or as a modification of parole/community supervision. The program consists of Phase I (Orientation), a comprehensive assessment and orientation of the Therapeutic Community; Phase II (Main Treatment), which includes education, skills training, offender lifestyle confrontation, family dynamics, and peer support groups; and Phase III (Re-Entry), the education of offenders in the development of social skills and the recognition of the triggers of relapse. Upon completion of the SAFPF program, offenders are placed in a community residential facility/Transitional Treatment Center for three months, followed by outpatient treatment for up to twelve additional months. The aftercare phase administers a diverse range of therapeutic, residential, outpatient, and resource programs. The Special Needs program provides educational components that address Axis I mental disorders as well as personality disorders, medication regimentation, and the interaction of disorders with substances of abuse. |
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Offenders on community supervision serve their sentences in the community. They are sentenced by local county-courts-at-law and district judges.
Offenders are eligible for parole after they are released from prison.
The Texas Code of Criminal Procedure (Volume 4, Section 509.003, Standards and Procedures) defines parole and community supervision this way:
Community Supervision: The supervised release of a convicted defendant by a court under a continuum of programs and sanctions with conditions imposed by the court for a specific period during which the imposition of a sentence is suspended: A) criminal proceedings are deferred without judgement of guilt, or B) a sentence of imprisonment or confinement, imprisonment and a fine, or confinement and a fine, is probated and the imposition of sentence is suspended in whole or in part.
Parole: Parole means the conditional release of an eligible prisoner from the physical custody of the Correctional Institutions Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to serve the remainder of the sentence under the supervision and control of the board.
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Budget & Management
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The County budget identifies all revenues and estimated expenditures for mandated and essential County services. It is a complex financial plan that integrates many income sources to provide a large variety of services for the public. |
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Commissioners Court is responsible for approving (adopting) the annual budget. Prior to the adoption of the budget, the Commissioners' Court will review the recommended budget prepared by DBM – Budget Division and revise, alter, increase, or decrease budget items as it deems necessary in view of the needs of the County and the available resources. |
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The General Fund Budget for the year 2008 is $148,152,171. |
Building & Grounds
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Yes, but only minor construction due to the size of the department manpower. |
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Yes, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week - even on holidays. |
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Building & Grounds covers approximately one million square feet of County-owned facilities, which include, parks, collection stations, courts, clinics, administration offices, park offices, swimming pools, mechanic shops, precinct offices, constable and sheriff sub-stations, etc. |
CEDS
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A comprehensive economic development strategy (CEDS) is designed to
bring together the public and private sectors in the creation of an economic
roadmap to diversify and strengthen the regional economy. The CEDS
analyzes the regional economy and serves as a guide for establishing regional
goals and objectives, developing and implementing a regional plan of action,
and identifying investment priorities and funding sources. A CEDS sets forth
a strategy necessary to solve the economic development problems
of the region, clearly defines the metrics of success, and provides a useful
benchmark by which a regional economy can evaluate opportunities with
other regions in the national economy.
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Every region has its own unique set of assets -- both tangible and
intangible -- that can be leveraged for workforce and economic development
to enhance its competitive position and support innovation-based growth.
Asset mapping identifies the assets a region has (human, intellectual, financial,
physical, institutional capital), provides a comparison to other regions, identify
gaps, provides an understanding of networks and cultural attitudes, gives a
baseline to judge future progress, and provides a base for strategic planning.
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The asset map and CEDS for Hidalgo County will be developed with broad-based
input from the community through an asset mapping research process and an
economic development strategic planning process that involves public and private
sector participation. The UTPA project team will lead development of the asset map
and the CEDS with a Strategy Committee, an Asset Mapping Subcommittee,
and input from other key stakeholders and the public through meetings.
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In Texas:
South Plains Economic Development District of Lubbock
15 county region
Population approximately 386,742West Central Texas Economic Development District Corporation of Abilene
19 county region
Population approximately 340,000 Around the Country:
Connecticut – Fairfield County
Population approximately 900,000
Most populous county in State Michigan – Northwest Michigan Council of Governments
Population approximately 297,210 New York – Mohawk Valley Economic Development District of Mohawk, NY |
Commissioner Pct. 3
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You can call our office at (956) 585-4509 and report your concerns to the office staff. They will redirect your call to Saul Ramirez (Fields Operation Director) or Mingo Villarreal (Project Coordinator). |
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Yes, pauper burial services are offered through the County’s Human Services Department. To learn more about this program call Eddie Olivarez, Chief Administrative Officer for Hidalgo County Health Department at (956) 383-6221. |
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Mona R. Parras, Chief Administrator to the Commissioner can help you. Contact her at (956) 457-6415. |
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The property owner is responsible for keeping the property clear of trash and overgrown weeds. The Health Department handles these types of complaints. If you have a complaint regarding maintenance of a vacant lot, call (956) 383-0111 and ask for Chardo Ramos. |
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To reserve a County pavilion or for further information, call the Parks and Recreation department at (956) 585-5311. |
County Court #1
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The Court will set a specific motion after it is filed with the Clerk’s Office if an Order Setting Hearing is attached to the motion that includes a signature line for the Judge and names and addresses of all counsel of record and/or parties pro se for proper notice. The Court requires a Certificate of Conference on all Motions to Compel. |
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Yes – both the attorney and defendant must be present at the time of the court’s setting, unless the Court has made contact with all counsel of record advising continuance was granted. The filing of a continuance does not constitute an automatic granting of the continuance. |
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Yes, in certain cases and as approved by the Court. Counsel may make arrangements with Court Call prior to the date of the hearing by calling (888) 882-6878. |
County Court #4
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The Court will set a specific motion after it is filed with the Clerk’s Office if an Order Setting Hearing is attached to the motion that includes a signature line for the Judge and names and addresses of all counsel of record and/or parties pro se for proper notice. The Court requires a Certificate of Conference on all Motions to Compel. |
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Yes – both the attorney and defendant must be present at the time of the court’s setting, unless the Court has made contact with all counsel of record advising continuance was granted. The filing of a continuance does not constitute an automatic granting of the continuance. |
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Yes, in certain cases and as approved by the Court. Counsel may make arrangements with Court Call prior to the date of the hearing by calling (888) 882-6878. |
County Judge's Office
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According to the Texas Association of Counties, “the Texas Constitution vests broad judicial and administrative powers in the position of the county judge, who presides over a five-member commissioners’ court, which has budgetary and administrative authority over county government operations.” Hidalgo County Rene A. Ramirez waived his judicial duties and serves in an administrative capacity. He is similar to a mayor for a city. In the olden days, county government primarily concentrated on building roads and public safety. Today, Hidalgo County is involved in a wide array of projects from developing a healthy workforce, increasing economic opportunities and green space to improving public infrastructure such as drainage and roads. Day to day, this office strives to improve the overall quality of life for residents of Hidalgo County. |
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Yes! We have people on staff that will help guide you. We understand that there are many public assistance programs out there that you may not know about. We can help you find the correct people to talk to if you need help. Our staff has advised students on educational opportunities, helped residents get answers they need regarding drainage or road issues, and our staff has guided people to find assistance with housing or bill troubles. |
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Contact the Office of the Hidalgo County Judge at (956) 318-2600 at a month in advance of your event or submit a formal written request to: Office of the Hidalgo County Judge
100 E. Cano, 2nd Floor
Edinburg, Texas 78539 We will do our best to accommodate speaker requests, or we may be able to send a staff representative. |
District Clerk's Office
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The Hidalgo County District Clerk’s Office is located at:
Hidalgo County Courthouse
100 North Closner, First Floor
Edinburg, Texas 78539 |
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Texas State Disbursement Unit
P.O. Box 659791
San Antonio, Texas 78265 |
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Texas State Disbursement Unit |
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The State Disbursement Unit accepts money orders, personal checks, cashier checks, and electronic transfers. |
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Our Child Support Division does not have the paperwork to establish child support. When an individual wants to establish child support, they can hire an attorney, ask the Attorney General for representation, or go to any law library to obtain information on how to prepare a petition for child support. |
Elections
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You are eligible to register and vote if you are: A)a citzen of the United States,
B)a resident of Hidalgo County,
C)at least 17 years and 10 months of age and you most be 18 years of age by election day,
D)not declared mentally incompetent by a court of law.
E)not a convicted felon, if so convicted you have: 1)fully discharged your sentence, including any term of incarceration, parole, supervision, or completed a period of probation ordered by any court; or,
2)been pardoned or otherwise release from the resulting disability to vote. |
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You can register any time, however, you must be registered to vote 30 days before an election in which you plan to vote. |
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Voter registration applications are available at: Hidalgo County Elections Department 101 S. 10th Ave, Edinburg, TX Texas Department of Public Safety Offices (DPS)
Public Libraries
Additionally, you may obtain an application by calling the Voter Registration Office at (956)318-2570 |
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You only need to register one time, however, if you have an address change or name change you will need to notify our office in writing as soon as possible. |
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Although you cannot apply online, you can go to (www.hgoco.net/elections) where you can update your address information but only if you are currently registered to vote. On that page you will see on the right toolbar a link where you can update your VR information. When making your update, you'll need your voter ID#. Make sure you leave off any beginning zeros. The SOS and the elections website also has applications to download, fill it out completely, place it in an envelope and mail it to us. This can take about 30 days. |
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If you are a registered voter and you have lost or misplaced your voter certificate, you may vote without your certificate by providing some form of identification (see list below) and signing an affidavit at the polls. This is the procedure to follow if your voter registration is still current and your name appears on the voter rolls in your county of residence. You may also contact your county voter registrar to obtain a replacement certificate.
Acceptable documents are: 1. a driver's license or personal identification card issued to you by the Department of Public Safety or a similar document issued to you by an agency of another state, regardless of whether the license or card has expired; 2. a form of identification containing your photograph that establishes your identity; 3. a birth certificate or other document confirming birth that is admissible in a court of law and establishes your identity; 4. United States citizenship papers issued to you; 5. a United States passport issued to you; 6. official mail addressed to you, by name, from a governmental entity; 7. a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and address; or
8. any other form of identification prescribed by the secretary of state. |
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Yes, this is new legistation but other information can included in place of the TDL# (such as the last four digits of a social security number). |
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If you have recently moved, please provide our office with your new address as soon as possible. This process will help with the delivery of your voter registration certificate |
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You can call the voter registration office at 318-2570 and they will verify your registration. If you are not registered to vote or have an incorrect address our office will mail you a voter registration application. |
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A volunteer deputy registrar may accept applications for voter registration from residents of Hidalgo County who are not already registered to vote. A volunteer deputy registrar may accept change forms from registered voters who wish to change inoformation on their voter registration certificates. A volunteer deputy registrar may hand out applications for requesting replacements for missing voter registration certificates. A volunteer deputy registrar may assist persons in filling out forms. A volunteer deputy registrar may fill out the application of change form for anyone who requests assistance if the person cannont read or has a phyiscal disability. |
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A person who is at least 18 years of age. |
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A person who has not reached the age of 18 years or a person who has been finally convicted of failing to deliver an application to the voter registrar. |
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Send a letter requesting cancellation to the Voter Registration Office stating that the voter is deceased. Include the name of the voter, registration address and date of birth. Sign your name and record your relationship to the voter beside your name (i.e husband, wife, son, daughter, etc). |
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The phone numbers of the of parties are, Republicans: 787-1920 or 583-0002, Democrats: 787-8082. The candidates file with the party and therefore can provide their campaign headquaters' phone number. If those numbers do not work, dial (1411) for information as the Elections Office does not carry contact numbers for candidates. |
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Are you registered in another county? When did you move? Otherwise, you can fill out a VR card to register you for the next election. A provisional ballot can also be offered but will not be counted if you are not registered. |
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A person has 10 days to respond to a supplemental letter once it has been sent out. They are sent out initially because the information was insufficient on the application. |
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The voter certificate will take 2 weeks to 30 days or you can retrieve a certified copy of your records by coming to the office. We need something in writing requesting us to mail you a replacement card. If you come in, we can give you a letter certifying your voter registration for 15 cents per page. However, we can't gurantee that teh custom officials will allow you to use the letter as a form of ID. Since 9/11/2001, it is no longer accepted as part of Homeland Secruity procedures. |
Emergency Services
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Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so it is important to plan in advance: how you will contact one another; how you will get back together; and what you will do in different situations. |
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Ready.gov has a ready to print guide to help you create your Family Emergency Plan. |
Employee Benefits
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Employees must report injuries and accidents to their department supervisor. |
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An employee must report injuries and accidents within 24 hours of occurrence. |
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Tri-Star Risk Management
5151 Flynn Parkway #301
Corpus Christi, TX 78411
Ph: (800) 593-0020 |
Human Resources
Indigent Defense
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Indigent Defense provides attorneys for those who cannot afford one in criminal matters only. |
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No, attorneys are assigned to cases by a court on a rotation. |
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If found guilty, there could be fines, court costs, or restitution the defendant would be responsible for. |
Information Technology
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Come by the IT Department on the first floor of the Hidalgo County Courthouse or call (956) 292-7010. |
Insurance Department
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ID cards can be requested at the Insurance Department (2818 S. Business Hwy 281). |
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Yes, you can make that change at any time. |
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Open enrollment is usually between the months of December and January of every year. |
Justice of the Peace Pct. 1, Pl. 1
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The Judge only requires marriage license. For more information, see the County Clerk |
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Money order and cashier's check only |
Justice of the Peace Pct. 2, Pl. 2
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A marriage license. For more information, see the County Clerk |
Justice of the Peace Pct. 3, Pl. 1
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Money orders and company checks |
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The department offers only half of the amount at the time of appearance and the rest of the amount within 30 days. |
Justice of the Peace Pct. 3, Pl. 2
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Cash, check (with two phone numbers, copy of driver's license), money order |
Justice of the Peace Pct. 5, Pl. 1
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Check (with two phone numbers and a copy of driver's license) and money order |
Law Library
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The Law Library is located on the first floor in the west wing at:
Hidalgo County Courthouse
100 N. Closner
Edinburg, TX The telephone number is (956) 318-2155 and the fax number is (956) 381-4269. The law library is open Monday-Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm. It is closed on all National holidays. |
Media Room / Public Affairs
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All requests to interview the Hidalgo County Judge must be directed to the Public Information Officer at (956) 292-7026. The best and easiest way to set up interviews with other elected officials and department heads would also be to contact the Public Information Officer. She can help you navigate through the many Hidalgo County departments to find the best person to answer your questions in a timely manner. The Public Information Officer strives to provide local, national, and international media with accurate and timely information. |
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You can watch Hidalgo County programming on Cable Access Channel 10 beginning at 9:00 pm Tuesdays. A broadcast of the Hidalgo County Commissioners’ Court follows at 10:00 pm. |
Motor Vehicle Department
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You may direct these questions to the nearest Tax Assessor / Collector Office located in the following cities:
Edinburg: (956) 318-2158
McAllen: (956) 686-6790
Mission: (956) 581-8898
Weslaco: (956) 973-7825
San Juan: (956) 283-1645 |
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State Comptroller of Public Accounts Motor Vehicle Sales Tax Information Capitol Station
Austin, TX 78774
Ph: (512) 463-4600
Ph: (800) 252-5555 |
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Yes, a vehicle may be operated for five days after the registration expires without paying a penalty. After the five days the penalty is 20% of the registration fee. |
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Yes, 20 working days to avoid paying penalties. Weekends and Holidays are not counted as part of the 20 working days. |
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For a period of 30 days after you establish residency or enter into gainful employment, the vehicle must be registered in Texas. |
Planning Department
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A surveyor can be hired to find your property corners. However, we can provide you with a print out of the subdivision showing the dimensions of your property. |
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The subdivision plat where your property is located has the recorded setbacks for your lot. |
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There are State and County requirements that must be met before you can subdivide your property. The process is long and we generally meet with the applicant to explain what is required. |
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We do not control the time it takes for the utility company to connect services. We can provide you with the contact number for the utility company so that you may follow up with them on the connection date. |
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We first have to review your deed and then list the different type of requirements for the type of use, if allowed. |
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Staff will review all items for compliance / completeness and forward written comments that should be followed to ensure timely approval. |
Public Defender's Office
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The Right to Remain Silent: You are not required to tell the police or anyone else anything about the charges against you. Do not talk to anyone about your case unless your attorney or your Public Defender or his or her representative is with you. The Right to a Lawyer: When you are charged with a crime for which you can go to prison, you have the right to a lawyer. If you do not have the money for a lawyer the Court will refer you to a court appointed lawyer or to the Public Defender's Office. The Right to Trial by Jury: If you are charged with a serious crime, you have a right to a trial by jury. |
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If you have been charged with a serious crime for which you could be sent to prison, you may visit the Hidalgo County Indigent Defense Office to see if you meet the financial eligibility requirements for a Public Defender. |
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When you are found financially eligible, the Public Defender's Office will represent you as soon as you are charged with a serious crime for which you could be sent to prison and stay with your case from arraignment up until final appeal. |
Purchasing Department
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Contact the Purchasing Department at (956) 318-2626. |
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Contact the Purchasing Department (956) 318-2626. |
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The Fixed Assets Division originally maintained a list of properties that have been purchased by the County. Recently Buildings and Grounds worked on an expanded list of properties that have been purchased, donated, or awarded to the County. The Fixed Assets Division will be maintaining these records and will be adding information upon future property acquisitions. |
Right of Way Department
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Center line of road, depending on width of road |
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The County is divided into four precincts. |
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Permits are usually approved weekly. |
Safety Division
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Though the County of Hidalgo maintains appropriate insurance coverage, most claims fall within the County’s SIR (Self Insurance Retention). This means if the claim is deemed to be valid, it is taken before Commissioners’ Court for approval. From the date of approval by the Court, the claim is then submitted to the Hidalgo County Auditor’s Office for review and approval. If and when all necessary forms are attested by the claimant and the claim has met with the Auditor’s approval, it is sent to the Treasurer’s Office for payment. If there are no questions or concerns involving the claim, it could take as little as two weeks from the time Commissioners' Court approves the claim for the claimant to receive payment. |
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The DBM Safety Division is a risk management organization. It is our goal to identify, reduce, and/or eliminate existing or potential risks or hazards to the County of Hidalgo and/or its employees and reduce or eliminate those risks through mitigation (i.e., engineering, education, mediation, awareness programs). |
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Our department offers a variety of diversified safety training specifically designed to assist departments and employees in maximizing their efforts by reducing the risk involved in their daily tasks. For specific information on the training available, contact our department and request a schedule of available courses. |
Tax Office
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For address changes, any type of written request is acceptable. Date and signature is required. Requests must be made by property owner. Fax your address correction to (956) 318-2478 or mail your request to:
Armando Barrera Jr.
Tax Assessor Collector
P.O. Box 178
Edinburg, TX 78541 |
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A copy of the legal document is required for ownership correction. The document must be recorded at County Clerks Office. Unrecorded documents are not acceptable. |
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Anyone can pay property taxes. However, paying taxes does not make you the owner. The property owner is the person listed on the recorded legal document. |
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Tax statements are mailed out in October or soon thereafter. |
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It is the taxpayers responsibility to contact the taxing entities (county, school, or city) if you did not receive your tax statement. |
Veterans Service
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The Veteran needs to fill out VA form 10-10EZ and submit to nearby VA health facility. |
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If eligible and enrolled, you will be able to receive inpatient hospital care in one of the contract hospitals. You also can go to the emergency room for a medical emergency. You will be able to recieve all diagnostic testing associated with the hospital stay or emergency room care. |
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Your records can be obtained from: National Personnel Records Center / Military Personnel Records
9700 Page Ave.
St. Louis, MO
63132-5100 |
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You can check the status of your claim by calling the VA Regional Office in Houston, TX at 1-800-827-1000. You must provide claim number and/or your social security number. |
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