Dear Editor:
Recently a land auction was held for property near the airport. One businessman paid $85,000 for 60 acres at $1,416.67 an acre. The same businessman paid an additional $29,000 for another 46 acres at $630.43 an acre.
A second businessman paid $120,000 for 101 acres at $1,188.12 an acre. The Amarillo Economic Development Corp. paid $750,000 for 100 acres at $7,500 an acre.
What I question is, when the city has to go into major debt for its police and fire departments, and when the city promotes growth but doesn't have the funds to provide basic services to a new housing development, why is the city paying a premium for land that would have been bought and developed by private parties except for the fact the city overpaid for it?
It seems the city always has money to pay for this, that and the other but has empty pockets when it comes to paying for what is essential.
Dan Sheard
Amarillo
