City Reps Use Discretionary Funds For Neighborhood Projects, Travel

As two El Paso city representatives get ready to leave public office, ABC-7 took a closer look at how they’ve spent the discretionary funds in their district,

Each city representative is allocated money every year to use at their discretion – mostly for constituent requests that cannot be funded by the regular city budget.

The amount depends on the budget and this fiscal year, the city representatives got $2,500 dollars a piece.

Eastside City Rep. Rachel Quintana spent $100 on the Plaza Classic Film Festival, $1,000 on the El Paso Youth Symphony, $500 on helping the Chamber of Commerce light the star on the mountain and $150 dollars on Dia de los Ninos – which provides books for children who can’t afford it.

A city spokeswoman said the money to pay for Quintana’s recent trip to Washington D.C. to meet with the president will come from her discretionary funds.

That’s also the case for Representative Eddie Holguin, who’s filed $1073.30 in travel expenses for that trip. That includes travel, and lodge. Holguin says he pays for his own meals when he travels on city business.

Quintana was not available for comment. Her assistant said she would not be at her city hall office on Monday.

Upper Valley, South El Paso City Rep. Beto O’Rourke provided ABC-7 with a list of his discretionary spending in his six years in office. Below are some examples:

Street lights – at least 10,000 spent Fence at Mary Webb Park – $2,850 Pool tables for senior citizen center – $1,280 Midnight Basketball – $2,800 Mosaic mural in Buena Vista – $300 Community tool sheds – more than – $1,000

Though O’Rourke has mostly spent discretionary funds on projects in the poorer area he represents, he hopes the city will get rid of the funds.

“It’s my hope that discretionary funding goes away completely, especially within a city manager form of government, I think you want spending decisions to be less discretionary and be more objectively considered across the board”, said O’Rourke.

He also said he hasn’t used his discretionary funds for travel.