Politics
Lubbock County commissioners propose no-new-revenue tax rate as budget talks grow tense - KCBD
Lubbock County commissioners are proposing to hold the property tax rate flat through a no-new-revenue rate, but County Judge Curtis Parrish says keeping taxes down now could cost the county down the road. The no-new-revenue rate is consistent with what commissioners have adopted in recent years, meaning homeowners would not see a higher tax bill tied to rising property values.
The no-new-revenue rate is consistent with what commissioners have adopted in recent years, meaning homeowners would not see a higher tax bill tied to rising property values. The county auditor is set to file the proposed budget in the coming days, which will trigger formal public hearings on both the rate and the spending plan.
What's different this year is how messy the process has gotten. Budget workshops held over the summer, which the county shared recordings of, have pulled internal disagreements into public view. The tension boiled over at the most recent workshop, which ended with commissioners walking out.
For people who own property here, the flat rate sounds like good news on its face. But Parrish's warning about the county's "future" signals that holding the line on taxes may mean less money for county services, infrastructure, or reserves. Those tradeoffs tend to show up quietly, in deferred road work or stretched departments, long after the budget vote is forgotten.
It's rare for budget workshops in Lubbock County to generate this much public friction, and the formal hearings haven't even started yet.
Common questions
What is the no-new-revenue tax rate in Lubbock County?
- The no-new-revenue rate keeps your property tax bill flat even if your home's value went up. Lubbock County commissioners have adopted this approach in recent years, so most homeowners would not owe more than they did the previous year.
Why is Lubbock County's budget process so contentious this year?
- Budget workshops held over the summer revealed internal disagreements among commissioners that spilled into public view. The tension came to a head at the most recent workshop, and County Judge Curtis Parrish has warned that holding the rate flat now could create financial problems for the county down the road.
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