Eight changes in Amarillo's city manager's office in eleven years, and what they cost

Amarillo has had eight changes in the city manager's office in eleven years, counting interim and acting managers. The last two permanent managers cost taxpayers more than $1.2 million to let go, and in neither case has the City told the public why.

How each one left:

• Jarrett Atkinson (city manager 2010–2015): newly elected council members asked him to resign in mid-2015 (ABC 7 reported it followed concerns over water-meter reading and the downtown catalyst project), then withdrew the request. He resigned that October with a letter that gave no reason. The council accepted it 3-2 and voted to pay him for 90 days after his last day.
• Terry Childers (interim, 2015–2016): resigned using a 30-day option in his contract. He said he had already planned to leave at the end of the year.
• Jared Miller (2017–2023): fired "without cause," 5-0, at an August 2023 special meeting. No public reason was given. Cost: about $767,000 as described at the vote, including $633,726 in severance, and $891,731 all-in by the Amarillo Tribune's 2026 count.
• Andrew Freeman (interim, 2023–2024): stepped down after a dispute with the council over staffing changes, including a police chief promotion.
• Grayson Path (2024–2026): hired after a $36,382 national search. The council met behind closed doors for more than three and a half hours in September, then accepted his resignation 4-1. Cost: $342,265, including a year's salary. The City has not stated a cause.

Bob Cowell and Floyd Hartman served as interims until a successor started. After Path left, Freeman returned as acting manager. On Oct. 27 the council appointed Rodney Rhoades interim city manager, at $175 an hour plus housing, under an agreement with Strategic Government Resources, the firm the City hired for the next search.

A city manager can be let go without a reason, and the contracts the council signs set the price. Residents have paid that price twice in three years without being told why. Before the council signs the next contract, it's fair to ask what the severance terms are and whether they'll be made public.

Every date, vote and dollar figure, with sources: amarilloledger.com/events/city-manager-turnover