The Amarillo City Council on Tuesday, Sept. 16, adopted its final $557 million budget for fiscal year 2025-26, raising the property tax rate slightly to maintain services and boost employee pay, while postponing a separate decision on a donated cowboy statue for City Hall.

Budget approval

The final budget, which takes effect Oct. 1, follows weeks of workshops, public hearings and detailed debate. Mayor Cole Stanley described it as “a good, balanced budget” that keeps the city on firm footing but leaves unfinished work on salaries for police, firefighters and other employees.

“It didn’t get to the level of raises, especially for those public safety first responders, that we wanted,” Stanley said. “We need to continue to dig in on that and become more efficient so we can remain competitiv

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