The Lubbock City Council adopted on first reading its budget and property tax rate for the 2024-25 fiscal year following a number of discussions and votes on competing proposals Tuesday.
The council voted 5-2 to adopt a budget proposal from Councilwoman Jennifer Wilson along with its supporting property tax rate, which is lower than the initially proposed tax rate but higher than the no-new-revenue rate — despite efforts by Mayor Mark McBrayer, who promised citizens he would push for the no-new-revenue rate this year.
McBrayer and Councilman David Glasheen, who each also presented their own versions of the budget during the special meeting Tuesday, voted against Wilson’s proposal. The budget and tax rate will need final approval on second reading next week.
Wilson’s $929.7 million proposal is based on the budget initially pitched by City Manager Jarrett Atkinson, but with some changes in funding and spending and a lower property tax rate. The budget calls for fewer expenditures than the last two municipal budgets.