Government & Development
Expenses rising higher than expected revenue has city looking at challenging budget for fiscal 2026-27
City officials say specialized expenses—such as emergency vehicles, road materials and public-safety facilities—are increasing much faster than tax and fee collections Lubbock officials are preparing for a difficult 2026-27 budget process as modest revenue growth collides with rapidly increasing costs for vehicles, construction materials, employee compensation and other municipal needs. City Manager Jarrett Atkinson and members of the Lubbock City…
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Lubbock voting machines restored after cleaning triggered hidden security setting
All early-voting locations reopened with working equipment after officials identified why some ballot-marking devices stopped accepting paper. Voting hours were extended on four days to offset the disruption. LUBBOCK, Texas — Lubbock County restored its voting machines after discovering that a routine cleaning procedure had activated a security setting that…
Cleaning procedure triggered Lubbock voting-machine failures on first early-voting day
Thirteen locations switched to emergency paper ballots after ballot-marking devices stopped accepting paper. Officials corrected the problem before voting resumed and extended hours to compensate for delays. LUBBOCK, Texas — A security setting unintentionally activated during routine cleaning caused voting equipment to reject ballots across Lubbock County on the first…
City argued Boren was ineligible for District 4 ballot; appeals court disagreed
The City of Lubbock maintained that Gary Boren failed a state residency requirement, but the Seventh Court of Appeals ordered officials to accept his candidacy. Boren has since advanced to an Aug. 1 runoff. LUBBOCK, Texas — A legal dispute that began with the City of Lubbock declaring Gary Boren…
Boren asks appeals court to restore him to Lubbock District 4 ballot
The former councilman challenged the city secretary’s interpretation of Texas residency law, arguing that Lubbock’s home-rule charter made him eligible when he filed. Gary Boren asked the Seventh Court of Appeals in Amarillo to compel the City of Lubbock to accept his application for the District 4 City Council special…
Boren wins ballot challenge, advances to runoff for Lubbock City Council District 4
City officials initially said Gary Boren had not lived in District 4 long enough to run, but an appeals court ruled that Lubbock’s charter—not the state’s default six-month requirement—controlled his eligibility. Gary Boren successfully challenged the City of Lubbock’s decision to exclude him from the District 4 special-election ballot and…
Lubbock weighs renaming Cesar E. Chavez Drive as competing proposals emerge
Suggestions include restoring Canyon Lake Drive, honoring Dolores Huerta or selecting a locally connected name, but city leaders say the decision requires public input and careful planning. Lubbock officials and community leaders are considering whether to remove Cesar E. Chavez’s name from a major Canyon Lakes roadway following allegations that…