Council Member Glasheen challenges impact fee rationale during budget work session

The Lubbock City Council convened on June 24, 2025, to address several key issues impacting the community, including budget concerns and infrastructure funding. The meeting began with a discussion led by Council Member David Glasheen, who expressed his views on the city's revenue strategies, particularly regarding sales tax and impact fees.

Glasheen criticized the council's approach to budgeting, highlighting a disconnect between the desire for no new revenue and the reality of declining sales tax revenues. He argued that the notion of "growth pays for growth" is flawed, stating that relying solely on future development to cover infrastructure costs has historically failed. He emphasized the necessity of maintaining impact fees to fund essential services such as roads, drainage, and public safety.

Following Glasheen's remarks, the council moved on to the approval of minutes from previous meetings, which passed unanimously without amendments. The agenda then progressed to the consent agenda, where items 6.7 and 6.15 were pulled for separate consideration. The council approved the remaining items on the consent agenda unanimously.

City Engineer John Turpin was called to provide a briefing on item 6.7, indicating that infrastructure and development issues would continue to be a focal point in upcoming discussions.

Overall, the meeting underscored ongoing challenges related to budget management and infrastructure funding, with council members emphasizing the need for a balanced approach to revenue generation and community growth. Further discussions are expected as the council navigates these critical issues in the coming months.