During its regular meeting this week, the Amarillo City Council approved a resolution directing City Manager Grayson Path to study and develop a broad set of cost-recovery options that could shape the upcoming fiscal year budget. The move does not immediately change any fees or services but begins a structured review process that could lead to adjustments across multiple departments once proposals return during budget season.
Path’s directive builds on feedback from a March presentation and focuses on identifying ways the City can better align departmental costs with the revenue generated by services. Over the coming months, City staff will analyze existing fee structures, consult with advisory boards and committees, and evaluate where adjustments may be necessary to improve financial sustainability. Any proposed changes will ultimately return to the council for consideration rather than being implemented automatically.
A wide range of departments are included in the review. In Animal Management and Welfare, potential changes include higher shelter care fees, increased adult surrender fees, restoration of ordinance-based adoption pricing, and adjustments to repeat impoundment policies. These measures are aimed at recovering more of the costs associated with animal care and enforcement services.
The City Marshal’s Office may see phased increases in abatement administrative fees, while Environmental Health is reviewing possible shifts in revenue allocation, including moving grease trap program revenue into the general fund. Other considerations include higher recreational water permit fees and modest adjustments to inspection fees for group care facilities such as daycares and foster homes.
Fire Department cost recovery options are also under review. These include introducing tiered or risk-based pricing for inspections and plan reviews, adding re-inspection fees when violations remain unresolved, pursuing insurance billing for extraordinary incidents, implementing escalating false alarm charges for repeat offenders, and charging for standby services at special events or high-risk operations.
Library services may see updates to replacement costs for lost or damaged materials, along with increases in copier and printing fees. Nonresident library card fees are also being evaluated for residents outside Amarillo.
In Parks and Recreation, staff are considering gradual fee increases for golf and tennis, expanded facility rentals in athletics programs, and cost-saving measures such as reduced mowing in designated habitat areas. The department is also reviewing maintenance agreements with local school districts and reassessing planning and cost recovery related to the police shooting complex.
Public Works is examining landfill operations, which currently operate at a loss despite the solid waste system as a whole remaining positive. One option under consideration is a 5% to 10% increase in landfill tipping fees, though officials emphasize the need to balance revenue needs with regional market competitiveness.
Transit services are exploring new revenue sources through grant opportunities, careful fare adjustments, and the introduction of a pilot advertising program on buses and transit facilities. Meanwhile, Vital Statistics is evaluating new fees for record searches, including non-refundable search charges, state fee recovery mechanisms, and postage-related costs.
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