Cameron County just handed a big tax break to a company. The company wants to build a $3.2 billion shipyard at the Port of Brownsville. The company makes AI technology for military and commercial use. It calls the project Port Alpha.

The county commissioners voted Tuesday to approve the deal. Two commissioners were absent for the vote.

The company is called Saronic Technologies. Saronic wants to build a high-tech shipyard on the water in Brownsville. In return, the county lets Saronic skip 95% of its property taxes. That deal runs for 19 years.

That is a big deal. The Port of Brownsville sits in South Texas. Pay in this region runs lower than in other parts of Texas. Supporters say this project could change that.

Saronic says it will create more than 10,000 direct jobs by 2034. At least 35% of its workers must come from the local area.

"Companies like Tesla in Austin and Samsung in Taylor all received tax breaks," said Daniel Silva, an city booster in Brownsville. He said Saronic could go anywhere in the country. He said it could bring back people who left the Valley for better pay.

Not everyone agreed.

More than 30 people showed up to speak at the meeting. About 19 spoke against the tax deal. Another 21 sent written comments against it.

Many who opposed the deal said they want jobs in Cameron County. But they do not want a company that builds weapons. Saronic makes AI systems for military use. Some said they don't want that near their homes and water.

Others raised worries about the environment. The Port of Brownsville sits near the Laguna Madre and other coastal areas. Some said a shipyard that size could harm the land and water.

"We don't feel heard," said Josette Hinojosa, a local community activist. She spoke by video from home. She also pointed out that two commissioners were missing when the vote happened.

County Judge Eddie Trevino Jr. said he was disappointed too. "For whatever reason the other two commissioners are not online," Trevino said before the vote.

The absent commissioners were Gus Ruiz and David A. Garza. The court had put off this vote once before. They wanted all five there. On Tuesday, three voted anyway.

If Saronic misses its job goals, the tax break shrinks. The deal includes rules tied to how many jobs the company actually creates.

Saronic says the shipyard will take years to build. The full workforce of 10,000 is planned for 2034. It is not clear how many jobs would come in the first few years.

Brownsville has seen big projects before. But a project this big, with AI and military, is new here.

Supporters say it gives South Texas a seat at a big new table. Opponents say the county gave too much away. They say the people were not heard.

The deal still has to work on paper. Saronic must show it is hitting its job goals. If it falls short, the tax savings go down.

Commissioners who voted yes said the risk is small. They said the county is not losing money it already has. It just means taking less than Saronic would pay once open.

Critics said three votes should not have decided a deal this big. They wanted all five there first.

The tax break is now approved. Saronic still needs to break ground. People here will be watching.

This is one of the biggest deals in Cameron County history. Jobs, money, and the future of the waterfront are all on the line. South Texas rarely gets projects this size. Whether it pays off for regular people here remains to be seen.