The Amarillo College Board of Regents has approved a series of new financial transparency measures aimed at strengthening oversight of public funds following the results of a forensic audit released in February. The changes expand what is included in the board’s consent agenda and establish a new system for publishing monthly financial payment information online.
During its Tuesday meeting, the board voted to expand consent agenda items to include routine purchasing and contracting procedures that meet or exceed $50,000. These additions will incorporate recurring expenditures such as annual renewals, updated credit card spending limits, and clearer documentation of contract approval authority. The revised process will also enhance contract review procedures, tracking systems, and administrative guidance to improve consistency across financial operations.
College leadership indicated that the goal of expanding the consent agenda is to streamline board meetings while ensuring that regents have improved access to detailed financial information ahead of time. Under the updated process, board members are expected to review consent agenda materials in advance of meetings. While items may be approved collectively, regents retain the ability to request discussion, clarification, or separate votes on any individual item during public sessions.
Amarillo College President Jamelle Conner has previously stated that the institution is working to implement additional checks and balances in response to the forensic audit findings. The consent agenda expansion builds on earlier transparency initiatives that include a monthly internal audit review and the development of a publicly accessible finance dashboard, both of which have been presented regularly to the board since October.
In addition to the consent agenda changes, the board approved the creation of a modified monthly online check register that will be posted on the college’s website. The register will summarize payments made by Amarillo College, including payment dates, vendor names, and payment amounts. College officials explained that the system is designed to increase public visibility into spending while still protecting sensitive information.
Certain categories of data will be excluded from the public-facing register, including employee payroll details, student financial aid records, refund information, and banking or payment card data. Officials also noted that the information published will be unaudited and may be subject to change as part of normal accounting adjustments. Some payments may also reflect one-time expenditures, grant-funded obligations, or legally restricted funds that should not be interpreted as ongoing operational spending.
The new reporting system is expected to be implemented within approximately six months and will be updated monthly by the college’s internal finance team. College leadership emphasized that the online register is intended to supplement, not replace, existing audited financial statements.
Board leadership expressed support for the initiative, noting that similar financial transparency practices are increasingly common in other public education systems. Regents indicated that the added visibility aligns with expectations for responsible stewardship of taxpayer-supported institutions and encourages public engagement with financial oversight processes.
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