Lubbock mayor touts growing infrastructure, lower crime rates at annual city address

Yahoo

06-03-2025

At his inaugural State of the City Address as mayor, Mark McBrayer touted many achievements Lubbock has seen in the past years and provided updates on ongoing projects.
From the Lubbock Police Department's 100% murder clearance rate to the growing infrastructure of the city, McBrayer reminisced on a saying the city used to say years ago that still rings true to this day.
"Lucky me, I live in Lubbock," McBrayer said. "I think we can all agree this is still true. We are very lucky. We are very blessed."
The event was hosted by the Lubbock Apartment Association. As is tradition, the organization will donate a portion of the proceeds from the State of the City to a local charity chosen by the mayor. This year McBrayer and his wife Cindy selected Guadalupe Parkway Neighborhood Centers.
Here are four items McBrayer highlighted in his speech Wednesday in the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center.
During his speech, McBrayer said the council in 2024 passed a budget that lowered the property tax rate to $0.470120 per $100 evaluation - a tax rate that was lower than the year prior but that wasn't quite the no-new-revenue rate that McBrayer had advocated for.
"I remain committed to keep our taxes low," McBrayer said.
The mayor said he hopes to keep property taxes lower but also warns that this will always occur as the city needs to fund certain priorities.
However, McBrayer said there is also a reason why Lubbock is able to keep its property taxes low.
"Increased sales tax revenue reduce our reliance on property tax," McBrayer said. "Our sales collections have increased by more than 50% since 2016."
Sales tax revenue in Lubbock hit $99 million in 2024, with it projected to hit $105 million in 2025.
Lubbock City Manager Jarrett Atkinson also joined the Mayor at his address, pointing out other budget highlights that also strengthened city services, such as $14.5 million in general street maintenance.
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"This is not related to the street bond. These are our existing roads - trying to keep and get them in good shape," Atkinson said.
Other initiatives include spending $100,000 on efforts to find a new home for the Godeke Library and enhancing public safety by hiring three new police officers, four public safety officers, a new fire marshal, and two new customer service positions at Lubbock Animal Services.
Atkinson also pointed out that the city's principal and interest debt is over $1.8 billion, with 40% of that debt coming from Lubbock Power & Light.
"A large part of that debt is associated with moving us to the ERCOT market," Atkinson said.
Also joining the mayor was Lubbock's new police chief, Seth Herman, who was hired by the city in June 2024 and who has some goals in mind when leading the police department.
"Lowering the crime rate, and I think we are well on our way to doing that," Herman said. "We are increasing the number of our allocated personnel. I would like to increase that number further."
According to the city, there were 123,062 calls for service in 2024, with a response time of 6:13 for Priority 1 — life-threatening emergencies such as shots fired reports.
Lubbock also achieved a significant milestone when it came to closing murder investigations — a 100% murder clearance rate.
Herman previously told the Avalanche-Journal that the clearance rate means a known actor of a crime has been arrested, and the investigation is completed.
Dig Deeper Police chief touts 100% clearance rate for murder cases in Lubbock in 2024
"I would attribute that to, again, a product of enforcement endeavors of our officers working in collaboration with our other local, state and federal partners," Herman said.
According to the city, Lubbock saw 16 homicides in 2024 — the same as in 2013 — with several decreases in 2024 from 2023 in the calls for service such as:
23% drop in alarm calls for services.
14% drop in calls for services for hit and runs.
12% drop in calls for services for disturbances.
However, Lubbock did see an increase in calls for services in the following categories from 2023:
291% increase in calls for services to meet complainant.
86% increase in calls for services to assist motorists.
32% increase in calls for services for check subjects or areas.
Assistant City Manager Erik Rejino provided an update on the 2022 and 2024 road bond street projects.
Here is the status of the road projects in the 2022 $200 million road bond:
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34th Street from Avenue Q to I-27 — Completed.
34th Street from Avenue Slide Road to Quacker Avenue — Completed.
98th Street from Alcove Avenue to Upland Avenue — Under Construction.
146th Street from Quacker Avenue to Indiana Avenue — Under Construction.
34th Street from Upland Avenue to Milwaukee Avenue — Begins in 2025.
Milwaukee Avenue from North city limits to 4th Street — Begins in 2025.
Upland Avenue from 34th Street to 50th Street — Begins in 2025.
Upland Avenue from 4th Street to 19th Street — Begins in 2025.
114th Street from Frankford Avenue to Slide Road — Begins in 2025.
Residential unpaved roads — Begins in 2025.
Upland Avenue from 19th Street to 34th Street — Begins in 2026.
Voters approved a $103 million bond that would make updates to Broadway last year.
"It is currently under design," Rejino said. "In 2027, we will actually do the actual project — resurfacing of Broadway."
From Avenue Q to Avenue E on Broadway, the lanes will be repaved with concrete with modern brick intersections to reference the brick roads.
Here is the status of other projects from the 2024 bond election:
University Avenue from 50th Street to Loop 289 — Begins in 2025.
Avenue P from 130th Street to 146th Street — Begins 2026.
Upland Avenue from 98th Street to 114th Street — Begins 2027.
146th Street from Univesity Avenue to Avenue P — Begins 2027.
146th Street from Slide Roade to Quacker Avenue — Begins 2028.
34th Street from Upland Avenue to Alcove Avenue — Begins 2029.
McBrayer ended his address with a brief mention of the ongoing July Fourth celebrations the city is helping to facilitate.
For context, in January, news broke that the beloved 4th on Broadway festival hosted by Broadway Festivals Inc. wouldn't be coming back for what would be its 34th year after its founder — Don Caldwell — died in 2024.
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McBrayer quickly vowed that the city would still celebrate the Fourth of July despite the unexpected announcement.
In late January, the city council unanimously voted to approve an item to reallocate the $40,500 grant money earmarked for Broadway Festivals, Inc. to be diverted to Civic Lubbock Inc., as CLI will be the fiscal agent for the 2025 Community 4th of July Celebration.
Original reporting from the A-J stated that this year's festivities will be scaled down to include a parade in the morning with an evening concert and fireworks show.
However, in March, it was announced that CLI and a host of community partners had come together, revealing early details about the festivities - including a parade, concert and fireworks show - planned for July 4 along Broadway and in Mackenzie Park.
Mateo Rosiles is the Government & Public Policy reporter for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Got a news tip for him? Email him at [e-mail].
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: McBrayer highlights Lubbock success at annual State of City Address