Matthew James Kozik Will Run for El Paso Council
The candidate seeks a seat on the El Paso City Council in the District 1 election scheduled for November 3, 2026.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Remote Work
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Matthew James Kozik is campaigning for a seat on the El Paso City Council in District 1. The attorney is focusing his platform on freezing property tax rates and scrutinizing municipal economic development contracts.
Why it matters
The campaign highlights local concerns regarding transparency in city incentives and the management of taxpayer resources, such as water and power. Kozik argues that fiscal reforms and departmental cost-sharing are necessary to stabilize the city budget.
The city recently approved a property tax rate of 79.8 cents, while maintaining $33.5 million in reserves above its policy floor. A recent audit revealed that 6 of 7 city incentive files were missing required financial documentation.
The players
Matthew James Kozik
He is a local attorney who operates a private law firm and is currently a candidate for the District 1 seat on the El Paso City Council.
Meta
This technology company holds a contract with the city for a tax break worth $550 million tied to the creation of 50 guaranteed jobs.
El Paso City Council
This governing body manages municipal operations and recently authorized an 11% budget increase above inflation along with property tax adjustments.
The details
Kozik, who established his law firm in 2019, proposes using contract mediation to review existing corporate agreements, including a $550 million tax break for Meta that mandates 50 jobs. He opposes the development of new data centers to preserve local water and electricity resources.
Timeline
2019: Kozik established his law firm.
2024: City audit identified missing incentive file documentation.
August 18: City Council voted to raise the property tax rate.
November 3, 2026: The upcoming District 1 election date.
FY 2028: Planned end date for the candidate's property tax rate freeze.
Market Landscape
The candidate’s focus on the 2024 El Paso municipal audit of incentive files underscores a growing tension regarding how cities manage taxpayer-funded corporate subsidies. This mirrors a broader trend in urban governance where fiscal scrutiny of business agreements has become a central campaign issue.
Residents may see significant changes to municipal tax burdens if the proposed rate freeze is adopted through fiscal year 2028. Additionally, the candidate’s focus on departmental cost-sharing could influence future city service levels and utility resource management.
The takeaway
Kozik’s platform signals a shift toward stricter oversight of city development contracts following audit disclosures. Voters in District 1 are being asked to weigh current tax rate approvals against potential long-term budget savings through organizational reform.
Further reading
Explore the Remote Work section for more details on local economic shifts.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KVIA.
Live Poll
Should your local government prioritize tax incentives for large corporations over other budget needs?
