Pampa commissioners renew tax-abatement guidelines, approve plat-fee increase on first reading and award delinquent-tax lot

At a Pampa City Commission meeting, commissioners voted to reauthorize tax-abatement guidelines required under Chapter 312 of the Texas Tax Code, approved an ordinance on first reading to raise plat filing fees, and awarded a delinquent-tax parcel to a bidder, the commission announced during the meeting.

The reauthorization of the tax-abatement guidelines was adopted as Resolution R25-011. Shane, a city staff member, told commissioners the guidelines are required before establishing reinvestment zones and must be renewed every two years. "When we established our 2 reinvestment zones here in Pampa, we had to start with the guidelines and criteria. It's a requirement before you can establish that zone...by law, you have to renew them every 2 years," Shane said. Shane said the guidelines set a relatively low eligibility bar when the zones were created — including a threshold described by staff as $100,000 in improvements and a net $500,000 over the life of an abatement — and that only one company has used the program to date.

The commission also approved Ordinance No. 18-19 on first reading to increase plat filing fees. Carrie, a planning staff member, summarized current and proposed charges for plat processing and inspection work and told the commission…