Hidalgo politico owes nearly $195,000 in unpaid property taxes

HIDALGO — Local power broker and city council candidate Rudy Franz owes nearly $195,000 in unpaid property taxes, according to Hidalgo County tax data.

Rudy Franz, who owns taxi, bus and towing companies, heads the Concerned Citizens of Hidalgo, a political machine with wide-ranging influence in Hidalgo, Granjeno and two local school districts. He’s running against Mayor Pro-Tem Alvin Samano in May’s city election.

Asked about the unpaid tax bill, which includes $172,000 in back taxes, Rudy Franz said the decision not to pay was all business. When the properties sell, Franz said, he’ll pay the taxes.

“This is John David’s motto, personally given to me,” Franz said, referring to his nephew and political rival, Mayor John David Franz. “Tio, you don’t have to pay your taxes, because the more penalties you pay, the more money I make.”

Mayor Franz has a joint-venture agreement with Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins and Mott, a law firm that specializes in collecting delinquent taxes, though that deal explicitly excludes Hidalgo. Until January, Perdue Brandon collected Hidalgo’s delinquent property taxes and earned a percentage.

Rudy Franz said his political rivals have been stirring up gossip about his unpaid taxes as an election-year issue.

“They should be happy I’m paying all these penalties,” Rudy Franz said, adding that he expect to sell two properties soon and pay about $50,000 toward the bill.

Rudy Franz isn’t Hidalgo’s only candidate or elected official with unpaid property taxes. The Monitor searched Hidalgo County tax records for unpaid taxes on properties and known businesses owned by candidates and elected officials.

>> Councilwoman Siglinde Franz owes $4,227.56 in current-year taxes on two properties. Siglinde Franz, who isn’t running for re-election, is Mayor Franz’s mother and Rudy Franz’s sister-in-law. She couldn’t be reached for comment Friday.

>> Councilman Pedro Fonseca owes $10,268.43 in current-year taxes on three properties. He couldn’t be reached for comment Friday.

>> Councilman Guillermo Ramirez owes no property taxes. His ex-wife owns a home, which is still in Ramirez’s name, that has $1,715.52 in unpaid property taxes, Ramirez said.

>> Mayor Pro-Tem Alvin Samano owes no property taxes. After speaking with The Monitor on Thursday, Samano paid his taxes Friday morning.

>> Mayor John David Franz owes no property taxes.

>> Councilman Dan Dillard II owes $1,581.86 in current-year property taxes on one McAllen property, which Dillard said is an investment home he plans to sell.

--

Dave Hendricks covers McAllen and general assignments for The Monitor. He can be reached at dhendricks@themonitor.com and (956) 683-4452.