Goal Is An Industrial Park With A Runway
A county judge in the Texas panhandle is hoping for an increase
in economic development in Randall County, near Amarillo -- and
reducing the tax burden for homeowners with a new county
airport.
At the fourth meeting concerning the proposed Randall County
Industrial Airpark on Thursday, a feasibility study for the
possible airpark was presented claiming such an airpark could
generate as much as $561,000 in tax revenues in 2026, the final
phase of the airpark, according to the Amarillo Globe-News.
"This industrial airpark in Randall County would help us expand
the economic pie and this is what we need to do in Randall County,"
said County Judge Ernie Houdashell.
Bucher, Willis & Ratliff presented the feasibility study to
the Randall County Airpark Advisory Committee and to the public
attending the meeting. Charles Riordan, senior airport planner with
the company, said the airpark, which would need two sections of
land, would be a "doorway to the community and an economic engine
for the county."
According to the feasibility study presented, the airpark would
be developed in three phases. Phases one and two would involve
runways -- one 6,000 feet, and the other 5,500 feet.
The county would have little control or oversight, according to
Houdashell. The plan is specifically designed to keep business at
the forefront and in charge. Riordan said the management team would
be contracted out to a fixed-base operator.
The study estimated the total project to cost in the
neighborhood of $19 million. Fifteen million dollars would be
funded by the Texas Department of Transportation and grants from
the Federal Aviation Administration. A "local source" would have to
fund the remaining $4 million of the project.
Houdashell said business investors are already working on that
remaining $4 million and "a very, very small portion" would be paid
by taxpayers. The judge declined to discuss what businesses may be
involved or the exact sun local taxpayers would be responsible
for.
Tax revenues would be generated on improvements to the property;
additional revenue by leasing out the industrial development,
Houdashell said. This style of development is needed because
80 percent of the taxes in the county are paid by homeowners rather
than industry.
An impromptu vote to move forward was taken by the advisory
committee and it will now be up to county commissioners to vote on
whether to proceed with the site selection.
The Texas Department of Transportation could pay as much as 90
percent of the cost for site selection, which is estimated at
$80,000. The proposal will have to go to the Texas Transportation
Commission, probably in April or May.
The site-selection process can take up to nine months.
Houdashell said. County officials toured the county Thursday
investigating potential sites. Riordin said the airpark would most
likely be located west of Amarillo and south of Interstate 40.
The new airpark's potential for introducing new industry to the
area has some residents excited.
Local resident Richard James told Amarillo's Channel 7, "After
the citizens look at it they'll see it's something really needed in
this area. We don't have a lot of major airports."