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."

FMI: www.ci.amarillo.tx.us/