Randall County commissioners and members of the Amarillo City Council both gave approvals yesterday for tax increases during the upcoming fiscal year.
Randall County commissioners voted unanimously to keep the tax rate flat while relying on more revenue from increased property evaluations. The commission's move means that Randall County residents can expect to pay about 5.9 percent more in property taxes to the county, due to increased evaluations.
At City Hall, members of the City Council voted 5-0 to raise the property tax rate in Amarillo to pay off bonds from propositions approved by voters. Because property values were also deemed higher by members of the Potter-Randall Appraisal District, residents in Amarillo can expect to pay 8.33 percent more in property taxes to the City.
During the meeting, members of the City Council also voted unanimously to approve the budget for the 2017-2018 fiscal year. The 5-0 vote means that while some departments will be receiving cuts, others may see slight increases. Utility rate increases were also approved as part of the budget, increasing 3 percent.
