2008 Woodie Awards
Amarillo officials expect hurricane reimbursement
Georgia Romig Ranger Reporter
Issue date: 10/6/05 Section: Issues
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Hurricanes Katrina and Rita already have racked up an enormous bill in terms of human suffering, but now there are worries at home and in Washington about the financial costs of the disasters as well.
Oil and gas prices have been on the rise ever since Gulf Coast oil production shut down after the hurricanes. Texas was one of many areas affected by the halt of production.
Amarillo and Corpus Christi saw the largest price jumps in the state at a 13-cent increase.
Despite the generosity of many Amarillo citizens who gave their time and money to the less fortunate, assistance did not come without a price tag.
These matters have caused some in Amarillo to worry about what, if any, budget cuts the city government may have to make in the wake of the natural disasters.
Amarillo Emergency Manager Walt Kelley declined to theorize about any possible budget cuts. "One thing we don't do here is speculate," Kelley said.
The state of Texas already has taken action to help pay for assistance given to the victims of Hurricane Katrina as well as the damage caused by Hurricane Rita, which has affected school districts' transportation, law enforcement and city governments across the state.
State Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn has urged Gov. Rick Perry to use a $1.2 billion surplus to handle these costs. Strayhorn urges that the money be spent enhancing law enforcement and Texas schools, which are taking in students displaced by the hurricane, among other matters affecting victims.
State officials hope using the surplus will prevent the Texas government from making cuts in other government expenditures.
"I don't think that will be necessary," said state Rep. John Smithee, R-Amarillo, with conviction. Smithee added that he could not state with absolute certainty that budget cuts would not be needed sometime in the future, because the full extent of the damage caused by the hurricanes remains unknown.
Also helping with costs is the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which has vowed to reimburse the state of Texas 100 percent of the costs of providing shelter and assistance to the victims of Katrina.
Oil and gas prices have been on the rise ever since Gulf Coast oil production shut down after the hurricanes. Texas was one of many areas affected by the halt of production.
Amarillo and Corpus Christi saw the largest price jumps in the state at a 13-cent increase.
Despite the generosity of many Amarillo citizens who gave their time and money to the less fortunate, assistance did not come without a price tag.
These matters have caused some in Amarillo to worry about what, if any, budget cuts the city government may have to make in the wake of the natural disasters.
Amarillo Emergency Manager Walt Kelley declined to theorize about any possible budget cuts. "One thing we don't do here is speculate," Kelley said.
The state of Texas already has taken action to help pay for assistance given to the victims of Hurricane Katrina as well as the damage caused by Hurricane Rita, which has affected school districts' transportation, law enforcement and city governments across the state.
State Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn has urged Gov. Rick Perry to use a $1.2 billion surplus to handle these costs. Strayhorn urges that the money be spent enhancing law enforcement and Texas schools, which are taking in students displaced by the hurricane, among other matters affecting victims.
State officials hope using the surplus will prevent the Texas government from making cuts in other government expenditures.
"I don't think that will be necessary," said state Rep. John Smithee, R-Amarillo, with conviction. Smithee added that he could not state with absolute certainty that budget cuts would not be needed sometime in the future, because the full extent of the damage caused by the hurricanes remains unknown.
Also helping with costs is the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which has vowed to reimburse the state of Texas 100 percent of the costs of providing shelter and assistance to the victims of Katrina.