Amarillo City Council Approved Budget and Tax Rate
The city council voted 4-1 to authorize the fiscal year 2026-27 budget and tax measures.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in City Hall
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Amarillo City Council members passed a new budget and tax plan that includes a 2.9 percent effective property tax rate increase. This move is expected to generate an additional $2.06 million in property tax revenue for the upcoming fiscal year.
Why it matters
The budget adjustments are designed to manage the city's financial obligations and capital needs as Amarillo experiences growth. The revenue increase will be bolstered by approximately $1.3 million tied specifically to newly developed property.
The council approved a total property tax rate of 43.07 cents per $100 valuation, comprised of a 32.412-cent maintenance and operations rate and a 10.658-cent debt service rate. This tax shift is projected to increase taxes by roughly $9 for a home valued at $100,000.
The players
Amarillo City Council
This is the primary governing body for the city of Amarillo, Texas, responsible for managing municipal policies and setting annual budgets.
The details
The council passed these fiscal measures with a 4-1 vote, finalizing the financial roadmap for the 2026-27 period. The plan aims to balance ongoing maintenance costs with the city's debt service requirements.
Timeline
The Amarillo City Council approved the budget and tax rate on September 29, 2026.
Political Context
This budget approval follows the established standards set by the Truth in Taxation laws, which mandate transparency in local government revenue collection. The 4-1 vote indicates that while the measure passed, it did not receive unanimous support from council representatives.
Property owners in Amarillo will see a tax increase of approximately $9 per $100,000 of home valuation due to the new rate. Residents should prepare for this shift when finalizing their personal household budgets for the coming fiscal year.
The takeaway
The approved budget reflects the city's need to align tax collection with new property developments and debt obligations. Homeowners can estimate their specific tax impact by applying the new rate to their property's most recent appraisal.
Further reading
For more information on the city's financial planning, visit the City Hall section.
More information
View the complete city budget and financial information on the municipal portal.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KVII.
Live Poll
Do you support increasing the local property tax rate to fund the city budget?
