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Residents press council on audit findings, sewer upgrades and downtown hotel incentives
Summary
Public commenters raised concerns about apparent budget surpluses and audit discrepancies, questioned the need for an expansive sewer upgrade, and urged study of tax‑incentive policy for downtown hotels.
Several Amarillo residents used the public‑comment period to press the council on finances and development policy.
Mike Fisher, who identified himself as living inside city limits, raised questions about last year’s audit and told council he believed the audit showed roughly $15 million in unexplained funds. He said that, based on his reading, that could translate into "like, 30,000,000 extra" in the budget and urged the council to investigate and consider applying surplus money to parks rather than reinforcing what he called "bad behavior." He also questioned the necessity of a proposed large sewer upgrade.
Johnny Ethridge urged council members to recognize the value of civil‑service employees and noted fallout from earlier Community Development Block Grant discrepancies. Another speaker asked the council to study downtown hotel tax abatements, asking "when can we have a discussion about everybody builds a downtown hotel and they get free taxes for 10 or 20 years?"
Councilmembers acknowledged the comments, said staff would continue to respond through established review and audit processes, and noted that some items raised—such as potential audits or legal complaints—may require separate staff follow-up.
