With a potential multi-million dollar bond election on the horizon for Amarillo, it is worth asking whether such an election is fiscally responsible and what that means for the elected officials pushing such an initiative.

As we have reported, the City of Amarillo is expected to call a bond election in May for renovations for the Amarillo Civic Center Complex. The facility’s needs are well-known, but the proposed $279 million bond with an overall renovation price tag of $319 million is raising a few eyebrows, and rightfully so. Citizens had long called for Civic Center renovations prior to the construction of a downtown ballpark, but were ignored by local elected officials. Today, the elected officials are now asking residents to approve the renovations, but at a price tag that is certainly higher than it would have been if previous Councils would have ordered such renovations.

At this point, with rising taxes from the City of Amarillo, Amarillo College, Canyon ISD, and Amarillo ISD, citizens definitely need to ask whether another tax hike would truly be affordable by the taxpayers of Amarillo. We all know that local governments in Amarillo and across the state love to squander tax dollars and then “shake the money tree” by raising taxes or ordering bond elections. But is another massive bond something that voters should really sign on for? I would argue against the very idea of approving such a tax increase, but we must wait to see what bond package will officially be submitted to voters in May.

There is also another question to be asked regarding whether calling such a bond election is fiscally responsible on the part of Amarillo’s local elected officials. I would think that fiscal responsibility means living within one’s means, but apparently Amarillo’s elected officials have a different definition. This is also particularly troubling considering Amarillo City Councilwoman Elaine Hays’ aspirations for Congress. On her congressional campaign website, she says, “Government does not have a revenue problem. It has a spending problem.” Yet, Hays has not spoken out against a bond election that would put the government upside down on spending on a massive level. Debt acquisition is usually not a part of a healthy financial lifestyle, but I guess things are different when you are part of the government.

Voters have a lot of questions to consider ahead of this potential bond election. Let’s hope voters make the right choice.

-Thomas Warren III, Editor-in-Chief