By Noah Dawson
September has begun, and, as usual, with it has come another property tax increase approved by Amarillo’s city council. It couldn’t have come at a worse time: The nation remains in the grips of a historically deep recession. For many today, every cent matters.
To give some credit to the city, it was passed at an in-person meeting, which has become exceedingly rare in a year dominated by virtual meetings. To immediately erase that credit, it was held at 4pm, when many are still at work and many others are picking up children from school. Normally a meeting to consider a tax hike would draw a crowd. In a year where a tax hike is being considered while the economy is in a recession, one might expect quite a large crowd.
I counted fewer than 5 members of the public attending in person. Only two of the people to show up in person, one of them being myself, spoke. One more person called in to speak. Still, it should come as no surprise that none of the three members of the public to speak supported the tax hike.
I myself sarcastically thanked them for making the case against the ballot props this November more clear. Why should we give a second tax hike? Why should we give them longer terms? Why should we give them the luxury of fewer public meetings?
I look forward to the ballot props being defeated. I look even more forward to May, when Amarillo will finally elect a new city council, one that will host weekly city council meetings at a time when the public can actually attend and voice their concerns.