During their regular meeting Tuesday, the Amarillo City Council unanimously approved certificates of obligation totaling nearly $30 million. The funding will support a range of projects, including park renovations, street repairs, and public safety upgrades—all designed to improve quality of life without raising tax rates.
According to Assistant City Manager and CFO Laura Storrs, over $16 million of the approved funding will go toward improvements in the city’s park system. “We presented an item to have the council approve some certificates of obligation... it was a little over $16 million, and the bulk of that funding is going towards various park projects,” Storrs said.
Key upgrades include new lighting installations at major city parks like Thompson Park and John Stiff Park—enhancements that are expected to improve visibility and safety for residents using the parks during evening hours. Additional improvements will include expanded parking at recreational facilities and the replacement or purchase of fleet vehicles and equipment used for park maintenance.
The council also approved a second certificate of obligation not to exceed $12.5 million, which will fund approximately 17 miles of street repairs over the next decade. These funds will be directed toward critical maintenance projects such as overlays and chip seal work, as the city looks to tackle aging roads and persistent potholes.
“This council saw the need to continue to push funding into the streets,” said Mayor Cole Stanley. “We need a 10-year plan... within our current tax rate, we’re going to spend roughly $1.2 million a year to cover the debt service that allows us to borrow $11.8 million.”
The mayor emphasized that the council's approach is rooted in long-term planning and sustainability. “These roads are not going to get any less expensive, and we’ve got to get a system in place that builds in the cost of repairs as we drive on them,” Stanley said, highlighting the importance of investing in infrastructure before costs rise further.
In a bid to make the most of available resources, council members noted that some of the funding being used for the approved projects includes unspent funds from previous years, now being reallocated to meet pressing needs across the city.
Importantly, the debt issuances will not increase property taxes for Amarillo residents. Mayor Stanley assured citizens that the funding had already been accounted for in the city’s budget during last September’s financial planning cycle.
“These certificates of obligation issued today will not affect tax rates,” he stated. “You’re also seeing our third pillar here, it’s our third priority—quality of life. You can’t forget about quality of life. We’ve got to focus on public safety, then we’ve got to take care of our infrastructure, which you’re seeing.”
The certificates of obligation will finance:
Up to $17 million for construction, renovation, and equipping of park and recreational facilities, funded through the current annual budget.
