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According to announcements from Inspire Amarillo and the Potter County Republican Party, a petition seeking to repeal the civic center tax notes will conclude taking signatures on Thursday. According to a video statement by businessman Alex Fairly released by Inspire Amarillo, the signatures will then be verified by a third party ahead of being sent to the Amarillo City Secretary for verification.
According to an announcement by Potter County Republican Party Chair Dan Rogers, the petition already appears to be “way over the necessary signatures.” Fairly noted in his video that they crossed 10,000 signatures on Monday.
Fairly also noted in his video that the firm which was hired to help with the drive has said “it’s the fasted 10,000 signatures they’ve ever collected.”
Those interested in signing the petition can still sign at either the Potter County Republican Party Headquarters at 4217 SW 21st Ave from 10am to 6pm or the Fairly Group at 1800 S Washington Suite 400 from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm on Thursday.
If the number of signatures verified by the Amarillo City Secretary does indeed meet the threshold of at least “five (5) percent of the registered voters within the City of Amarillo” as defined in Amarillo City Charter, the city council will have 30 days to repeal the ordinance. If the council does not act, the committee which filed the petition may then request the tax notes be put on the ballot. As the deadline to place items on the ballot for the upcoming November 8th ballot was August 22nd, the item will appear on the May 6th ballot next year (alongside the upcoming Amarillo City Council election) if the issue is brought back to the ballot.
Fairly also gave an update in his video about his lawsuit against the city related to the same tax notes, stating that depositions took place yesterday and will continue today. The two-day trial for the lawsuit is set to begin at 9:00 am on October 4th in Potter County District Court.