Recommendation: Vote Against Amarillo ISD Props A-D

Screenshot from Amarillo ISD bond website/Provided

By Amarillo Pioneer’s Publisher’s Committee

When voters begin heading to the polls in a few weeks to vote in the May 7 election to decide four bond propositions for Amarillo ISD, they likely will have already been hit with countless ads in support of the items. A well-funded political action committee created by Amarillo’s usual band of tax increasers has already been created to push the items and will likely persuade many to part with even more of their money. After all, AISD’s tax rate is already sky-high, so what’s a little more added to the levy?

Our publisher’s committee recommends, however, that Amarillo voters reject the tax-raising advances of the establishment and vote against all four bond proposals put forward by AISD.

Breaking down each of the propositions, Proposition A would fund general improvements at a number of AISD campuses, including a total rebuild of Austin Middle School at a price tag of $180.6 million — the largest single bond amount ever put forward by AISD.

While proponents of Proposition A will likely scream about the necessity of funding campus improvements, we believe now is not the right time to pass the largest bond in the school district’s history. Many taxpayers are still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and our economy is still somewhat in the sluggish recession mode that was created by the pandemic. Many businesses have shut their doors and many people are still unemployed or underemployed. Why should we be making life harder for taxpayers — and renters whose rental rates are affected by tax increases — at this difficult time.

Beyond just this point, consider that Amarillo ISD has successfully passed tax-raising bonds twice in the past decade, in 2013 and 2017. Both times, these bonds were meant to fund critical projects for AISD schools. Now, in 2022, AISD officials are demanding that voters take action to repair Austin Middle School, but this same sense of urgency wasn’t found on the board when either the 2013 or 2017 bonds were put forward. If Austin Middle School is in such dire need of repairs, why didn’t AISD trustees prioritize repairs to this campus in either of the past two bonds? Perhaps it is because just like with this year’s bonds, Amarillo politicians have a tendency to prioritize their wants versus the projects that Amarillo needs. Don’t reward them. Vote against Proposition A.

Proposition B would fund renovations to Dick Bivins Stadium at a cost of $19 million. Once again, now is not the right time to be pushing any new debt on taxpayers, but more than that, why should taxpayers be on the hook for new funding for sports facilities? Some taxpayers could still make the case that an increase in taxes could be acceptable if that money was being reinvested into the classrooms. However, with Proposition B, every penny raised by this item would not go to the classroom, but would instead go toward the football stadium. This is not a wise investment for taxpayers to make at this time.

Proposition C would fund the creation of a water complex for AISD — this year named as the “natatorium” — at a cost of $38.3 million. This is the same item that has twice been put forward as a bond in Amarillo — once in 2013 and once in 2016. Both times voters shot it down, but just like a zombie in a cheap horror movie, it keeps coming back to life, albeit with different names and descriptions each time. Don’t reward Amarillo politicians for figuring out how to again rebrand a twice-defeated bond proposal. Make it a third time and kill this bond again.

Proposition D would fund the creation of a “Multi-Purpose Indoor Activity Facility at each of the four traditional high schools” at a cost of $48 million. This item is very vague as to what exactly it would fund, outside of saying that it would serve fine arts and athletics programs. This bond is too vague to cut the mustard, and seems to have been thrown together at the last minute in a cheap attempt to wrangle more money away from the taxpayers. If you have questions about the shoddy way Proposition D was thrown together, consider that Amarillo ISD Trustees David Nance and Kimberly Anderson — both of whom voted to place Propositions A, B, and C on the ballot — voted against adding Proposition D to the ballot.

Overall, these four propositions represent the largest grab for cash ever perpetrated by Amarillo ISD, at a time when Amarillo taxpayers and renters really can’t afford another hit. Amarillo can’t afford an 11 percent increase of what is already the highest tax rate in town for a batch of projects that include both the unnecessary and the things that can wait.

When Amarillo voters step into the voting booth, we believe the choice on these four bonds should be crystal clear.

We recommend voters vote against Propositions A, B, C, and D and prevent the largest tax increase in Amarillo ISD history.

Early voting runs from April 25-May 3. Election Day is May 7.

Please note: A publisher’s committee endorsement does not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the Amarillo Pioneer’s advertisers or staff. An endorsement of one candidate does not represent a criticism of other candidates running unless otherwise stated. Endorsements may be offered in additional races. A primary endorsement does not necessarily indicate a general election endorsement, as local general election endorsements will be handled on a case-by-case basis.