· Context
Council approves the AEDC's FY2023/24 budget 4-1; motion to restore $200,000 to the Enterprize Challenge dies
At a special meeting the council first voted 5-0 to amend the AEDC budget to show payroll and a new performance-pay line separately. Councilmember Les Simpson then moved to restore $200,000 to the West Texas Enterprize Challenge; the motion died for lack of a second. The council approved the budget 4-1, with Simpson voting no. The packet budget totals $3,503,340, including $380,000 for the Enterprize Challenge program.[1][2][3]
Les SimpsonTom ScherlenJosh CraftCole StanleyDon TippsKevin CarterAmarillo Economic Development Corporation (AEDC)
What the sources say
- ✓ Verified
The minutes record three actions on Resolution No. 09-19-23-1. First, Councilmember Tom Scherlen's motion to show payroll ($1,030,040) and a new performance-pay line ($140,460) separately, for a total of $1,170,500, passed 5-0. Second, Councilmember Les Simpson's motion to replace the $200,000 and fully restore the Enterprize Challenge died for lack of a second. Third, the budget was ratified 4-1: Josh Craft, Tom Scherlen, Cole Stanley and Don Tipps voted aye and Simpson voted no.[1]
- Payroll
- $1,030,040
- Performance pay
- $140,460
- Personnel total
- $1,170,500
- Restore motion
- $200,000
- ✓ Verified
Councilmember Les Simpson: At Simpson's request the minutes record that he voted against the AEDC budget because he did not support approving it without the full Enterprize budget restored. The Globe-News quoted him: 'I would have liked to have seen the continuation of the full funding of the challenge.'[1][3]
- ✓ Verified
The FY2023/24 AEDC budget in the council packet (amended by the AEDC board August 21, 2023 after council feedback) totals $3,503,340, with $380,000 for the WT Enterprise Center's Enterprize Challenge program under project support. The Amarillo Globe-News reported that the approved $3.5 million AEDC budget was more than $650,000 below the prior year, and that the Enterprize Challenge's funding was cut by $200,000, lowering the maximum award per business to $75,000.[2][3]
- Budget total
- $3,503,340
- Enterprize challenge
- $380,000
- ✓ Verified
Mayor Cole Stanley: Mayor Cole Stanley told the Globe-News that the Enterprize Challenge cut followed from the program not issuing all of its available funds over the previous two years: 'Their budget number got reduced due to the challenge of not issuing all the funds.'[3]