I’ve made up my mind … and it was easier to settle on this decision than it has been trying to decide who should become the next president of the United States of America.
All of the Amarillo ballot measures deserve voters’ endorsement.
Some are more vital than others. The city has done a marvelous job of breaking out a total package of about $340 million into separate measures aimed at specific needs.
It settled on a seven-part package.
Here are the seven elements spelled out … line by line:
http://amarillo.gov/pdf/CIP_list_for_ballot_resolution.pdf
Do I rate all of them equally? No. Some are more vital than others. My personal preference would be to place the public safety element at the top of the priority list. The city is hoping to spend $20 million on several elements relating to improving police and fire protection.
The street element also is critical. I do not like driving along pock-marked streets. They are rough on motor vehicles and I much prefer to drive my motor vehicles along streets that are free of those craters.
Yes, there are some problematical issues on the ballot. The toughest political sell — in my view — would be the ballot proposition dealing with athletic fields. The city hopes to spend a huge chunk of change, about $65 million, to improve current ball fields and build new fields. We’ve been down this road before. Amarillo voters rejected the Amarillo Recreational Center proposal. I’m not yet sure if there’s enough support in the city to back this latest request. I hope it’s there and I intend to support it.
The city’s famously low tax rate is going to increase incrementally, depending on how many of the seven measures win voter approval.
Here are the resolutions that the City Council approved:
http://amarillo.gov/pdf/Resolution_Callilng_November_Election_16.pdf
I happen to be a good place regarding tax rates. My property taxes are frozen, given my age. That ought to bode well for these measures among other, um, more mature voters who enjoy the same property tax benefit granted to my wife and me.
Do I wish others to shoulder a tax burden that is too heavy, too costly? Of course not.
Amarillo residents have benefited for decades with a municipal tax rate of about 35 cents per $100 assessed property valuation. That rate is among the lowest in Texas. Is it time to dig a bit deeper to pay for these improvements to our infrastructure or to improve the quality of life in this vibrant — and growing — community?
I believe the time has arrived.
I applaud the city for the manner in which it has pitched these measures to voters. It’s not an all-or-nothing proposal. We have the option of selecting which of these measures to support.
I plan to support all of them.
