Budget Workshop Day 2: Civic Center & Public Safety Hot Topics

Day two of the City of Amarillo budget workshop exposed some issues within departments, not the least of which included Public Safety; specifically, fire and police.

The concern is department staffing; retaining personnel vs. losing them to other markets – even other local departments such as the Amarillo ISD and Pantex. 

APD Chief Martin Birkenfeld shared that his department currently has 34 positions to fill, 30 of them having existed since the beginning of the year. The openings are the result of officers accepting opportunities elsewhere, and retirement.

The Meet and Confer talks earlier this year fleshed out the need to make salaries more attractive. New recruits earn just over $60 thousand dollars a year as a base, but have leeway to take after hour and off-duty jobs to add to their income. Birkenfeld hinted officers such as Sargents and above are asked to maintain a more available schedule.

The Amarillo Civic Center Complex was discussed in the afternoon. That exchange between council, staff, and Civic Center manager Bo Fowlkes centered around the fact the venue is operating at a net loss, requiring support from hotel tax collection to cover the shortage.

City councilman Don Tipps questioned how the facility is being marketed and promoted, while Mayor Cole Stanley mused what if it were leased and the lessee was then charged with booking events and generating revenue.

The Budget Workshop meetings will continue Thursday.