Amarillo City Councilman Les Simpson is making the case for property tax relief as the City of Amarillo works toward adopting its 2026-2027 budget.

In a statement posted to Facebook Monday morning, Simpson said he hopes the City Council will vote later this month for the no-new-revenue tax rate as it works toward finalizing the budget.

His comments come after the council and city staff spent roughly two and a half days last week working through the proposed city budget.

“There’s no question we have to adequately fund our city,” Simpson said. “We have to provide police and fire protection, maintain streets and infrastructure, provide water and other essential services, and take care of the responsibilities citizens expect from their city.”

Simpson acknowledged that the City is dealing with higher costs, but said Amarillo residents are facing those same pressures.

“Groceries cost more. Insurance costs more. Utilities cost more. Just about everything costs more,” Simpson said.

“That's why I believe property tax relief needs to be a priority as we finalize this budget.”

Simpson said the council will vote later this month on a property tax rate that it cannot exceed when adopting the final budget. He said he hopes that vote will be for the no-new-revenue rate.

“I hope that vote will be for the No-New-Revenue rate, which is designed to keep the amount the City collects from existing property at about the same level as last year,” Simpson said. “Individual tax bills can still vary based on changes in taxable property values.”

Simpson also signaled that he does not view the no-new-revenue rate as the end of the discussion over property tax relief.

“I'm going to continue pushing for ways we can provide as much property tax relief as responsibly possible while still adequately funding essential City services,” he said.

That effort, Simpson said, should include a close look at city spending and borrowing before asking taxpayers for additional money.

“Before we ask citizens for more money, we need to look carefully at our spending, make good use of the money we already have, and make sure we're borrowing smartly,” Simpson said.

He closed his statement by arguing that the council has responsibilities both to adequately fund city services and to taxpayers.

“We have a responsibility to adequately fund our city,” Simpson said. “We also have a responsibility to remember whose money we're spending.”

Full statement from Simpson posted on Facebook Monday morning: 

Last week, the City Council and staff spent about 2½ days working through the proposed City budget. Those budget sessions are available online if you'd like to watch the discussions.

There’s no question we have to adequately fund our city. We have to provide police and fire protection, maintain streets and infrastructure, provide water and other essential services, and take care of the responsibilities citizens expect from their city.

And just like every household and business, the City is dealing with higher costs.

But our citizens are dealing with those same higher costs. Groceries cost more. Insurance costs more. Utilities cost more. Just about everything costs more.

That's why I believe property tax relief needs to be a priority as we finalize this budget.

Later this month, Council will vote on a property tax rate that we cannot exceed when we adopt the final budget. I hope that vote will be for the No-New-Revenue rate, which is designed to keep the amount the City collects from existing property at about the same level as last year. Individual tax bills can still vary based on changes in taxable property values.

But I don't want the conversation about property tax relief to end there. I'm going to continue pushing for ways we can provide as much property tax relief as responsibly possible while still adequately funding essential City services.

Before we ask citizens for more money, we need to look carefully at our spending, make good use of the money we already have, and make sure we're borrowing smartly.

We have a responsibility to adequately fund our city. We also have a responsibility to remember whose money we're spending.