May 12, 2020 · Starting point

City issues $8 million in Series 2020 certificates of obligation for a new Thompson Park pool

The City issued $8,000,000 in Combination Tax and Revenue Certificates of Obligation, Series 2020, to build a new pool at Thompson Park, maturing through 2050. News reports described the council's May 2020 approval as $7.9 million. City budget books list the issue among three debt issuances behind the FY 2020-21 increase in the debt-service portion of the property tax rate.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]

What the sources say

⚠ Sources differ
Figures for the 2020 pool financing differ by stage and source.
Reported value 1[5]
Amount
$6,000,000
FY 2019-20 budget book projection (2019) of the certificate issue.
Reported value 2[6]
Amount
$8,150,000
Maximum in the notice of intent, as reported by Texas Scorecard (advocacy; unverified).
Reported value 3[3][4][1]
Amount
$7,900,000
Amount news reports say the council approved in May 2020; also the 'new $7.9 million aquatics complex' in City budget narrative.
Reported value 4[1][2]
Amount
$8,000,000
Par amount of the Combination Tax and Revenue Certificates of Obligation, Series 2020, as issued (City debt schedules).
⚠ Sources differ
City budget books give different dates for the Series 2020 certificates.
Reported value 1[1]
Date
2020-05-12
Date shown in the FY 2020-21 budget book debt schedules.
Reported value 2[2]
Date
2020-05-01
FY 2021-22 budget book note: 'On May 1, 2020, the City issued' the CO Series 2020.
✓ Verified
The FY 2020-21 budget book says the Series 2020 certificates, $8,000,000 at a true interest cost of 2.59%, were issued to pay for the construction of a new pool at Thompson Park to replace the closed pool, with maturities through 2050; the FY 2021-22 book lists rates of 2.00% to 5.00% and annual maturities of $130,000 to $400,000.^[1]^[2]
Par
$8,000,000
True interest cost
2.59%
✓ Verified
The FY 2020-21 budget book says the debt-service property tax rate rose from $0.04403 to $0.05233 per $100 valuation, an increase it relates to three debt issuances: the 2016 bond election, construction of the new Thompson Pool, and downtown property purchased by the City.^[1]
Debt rate before per 100
$0.04403 per $100
Debt rate after per 100
$0.05233 per $100
✓ Verified
No fetched source records a voter election on the 2020 pool certificates; City budget books record them as issued in 2020.^[1]^[6]

Sources

1.City of Amarillo Annual Budget, Fiscal Year 2020-2021 — City of Amarillo, Oct 1, 2020 · retrieved Oct 9, 2026primarySubject-authoredIncludes the Local Government Code 102.007 cover notice (levy change, record vote, rate table).
2.City of Amarillo Annual Budget, Fiscal Year 2021-2022 — City of Amarillo, Nov 15, 2021 · retrieved Oct 9, 2026primarySubject-authoredRate table is labelled 'Current Year revised for failed election'; narrative states the proposed $0.48404 rate failed at election.
3.City of Amarillo reveals details of new $7.9 million Thompson Park Pool — KFDA NewsChannel 10, Jul 9, 2020 · retrieved Oct 9, 2026newsIndependentStance: neutral
4.City of Amarillo: Thompson Park Pool being replaced by state-of-the-art aquatics facility — ABC7 Amarillo (KVII), Jul 9, 2020 · retrieved Oct 9, 2026newsIndependentStance: neutral
5.City of Amarillo Annual Budget, Fiscal Year 2019-2020 — City of Amarillo, Oct 1, 2019 · retrieved Oct 9, 2026primarySubject-authoredAdopted budget book (re-hosted 2026). Cover notice text is font-garbled in the PDF; the record vote of the governing body is legible. Narrative covers the 2016 bond election and rate history 2008-2020.
6.Amarillo's Proposed Debt Issuance to Build Water Park Sparks Petition — Texas Scorecard, Apr 16, 2020 · retrieved Oct 9, 2026newsAdvocacyStance: criticalCommentary/advocacy outlet; used only for attributed statements.