Lubbock City Council Sets 2015-2016 Budget, Raises Property Taxes

The Lubbock City Council passed an amended 2015-2016 fiscal year budget Thursday, September 10, with relative ease and increased property tax rates in the same meeting.

The budget and tax votes narrowly passed (each with a 4-3 vote) with Mayor Glen Robertson and Councilmembers Jeff Griffith and Karen Gibson dissenting. Amendments included the cash-funded purchase of a building from TxDOT to be used by Parks and Recreation, cash funding the replacement of a water line and raising tax rates while lowering transfer, franchise and pilot fees.

Some contested expenditures included $2 million to update LPD’s verging-on-obsolete video recording system that Police Chief Greg Stevens said “threatens our credibility” and stressed the importance of maintaining transparency with the recent national distrust of police. The budget includes dozens of body cameras for officers as well as new dashcam equipment.

The council also voted to increase property taxes by 5.6 percent to .538 cents per $100 of property valuation. This is the third year of growing tax rates and Mayor Robertson alluded to a potential fourth year of growth next year.

Dissenting citizens said the increasing rate eliminates many advantages of living within the city. Mayor Robertson responded that income was rising with property values and population but he could not vote for increased tax rates until spending was cut in other areas of the budget.

It all boils down to the city council perceiving a need for increased revenue whether it comes from taxes or budget items.

Mayor Pro Tem Jim Gerlt said at the end of the year when putting pencil to paper, “you should have more money in your pocket.”