Lubbock County commissioners ratify highway memorial, accept clean audit and approve event funding, burn ban and administrative items

Lubbock County Commissioners Court on Monday, March 24, 2025, approved a package of resolutions, routine financial actions and event grants, accepted the county's 2024 annual financial report with an unmodified opinion from external auditors, and approved a 30‑day burn ban for four volunteer fire‑department response districts.

The court unanimously adopted a resolution asking the Texas Legislature to name a portion of State Highway Loop 88 in Lubbock County the "First Responders Memorial Loop," and it proclaimed April 2025 as Child Abuse Awareness Month in Lubbock County in a recognition requested by the South Plains Coalition for Child Abuse Prevention.

Why it matters: the audit and budget items signal the county's near‑term fiscal position and planning for FY 2026; the event funding and arts recognition reflect continued county support for local cultural and tourism events; the localized burn ban responds to immediate wildfire concerns in canyon‑area precincts.

Audit highlights and county finances Tyler Kennedy, audit partner for Mueller, Seegers, Gilbert & Moss, presented the county's 2024 annual financial report and told the court the firm issued an unmodified (clean) opinion on the September 30, 2024 financial statements. Kennedy summarized that total county assets rose and singled out increases in cash and investments driven in part by proceeds from general obligation bonds issued for the medical examiner's building and by federal and state grant receipts, including American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. He said the medical examiner construction fund carried forward roughly $30,595,000 into fiscal 2025 and that unrestricted general fund balances increased compared with the prior year.

Kennedy and the auditors also reported unmodified compliance opinions on audited federal and state grant programs (including ARPA and certain state grants) and said there were no reportable compliance findings in the 2024 audit.

Arts and community events The court received a presentation from a representative of the Lubbock Arts Alliance on the 47th annual Lubbock Arts Festival (April 12–13, 2025). The presenter said the county has invested $20,000 in the festival (from unclaimed funds set aside for specific uses), that organizers expect more than 13,000 attendees with about 70% from Lubbock County, and that the festival provides free or low‑cost programming for children and foster youth. The court noted the organization's earlier allocation of county funds and extended official recognition.

Event grants and community programming The court approved two small allocations drawn from unclaimed funds that are permitted for community promotion under state law: $2,500 for the Los Hermanos (Cinco de Mayo) parade hosted in Precinct 3, and $1,500 for a community "Let's Go Fishing" event hosted by a Los Hermanos family group. Both motions were made, seconded and approved during the meeting.

Public safety and administrative items At the request of local volunteer chiefs, the court approved a 30‑day burn ban limited to the Buffalo Springs, Ransom Canyon, Roosevelt and Slayton volunteer fire‑department response districts to reduce wildfire risk in canyon areas. The county emergency management coordinator noted the National Weather Service red‑flag warnings and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) burn rules already restrict burning when criteria such as sustained winds are met.

The court also: - Approved line‑item transfers in the amount of $158,324 and the payment of claims totaling $5,556,554.67; - Accepted the monthly unaudited financial reports for February 2025 and the FY 2026 budget calendar; - Approved the FY 2026 pay bands (used for budget forecasting); - Accepted the auditor's annual financial report as presented and thanked county finance staff for their work; - Approved the transfer and disposal of surplus and salvage property under the Local Government Code; - Awarded IFB 5021 (asphalt mixes for public‑works) to all four responsive vendors for the remainder of FY25 (to be used in order by price and availability); - Amended and approved the appointment of justices of the peace (all four precincts) to serve as hearing officers/examiners under the county's game‑room ordinance to hear denials, suspensions and revocations, subject to the ordinance provisions cited on the agenda.

Votes at a glance (motions and outcomes) - Resolution asking the Texas Legislature to name a portion of State Highway Loop 88 the First Responders Memorial Loop — motion to adopt read into the record; second recorded; motion carried (approved). - Special recognition: Monterey High School Lady Plainsman, 5A Division II state champions — recognition presented; motion carried (approved). - Proclaimed April 2025 as Child Abuse Awareness Month (South Plains Coalition) — motion carried (approved). - Approve minutes of March 10, 2025 regular session — motion carried (approved). - Approve line‑item transfers totaling $158,324 (no budget amendments) — motion carried (approved). - Authorize payment of claims totaling $5,556,554.67 — motion carried (approved). - Accept monthly unaudited financial reports for February 2025 — motion carried (approved). - Accept FY 2026 budget calendar — motion carried (approved). - Accept consent agenda items 10–18 as presented — motion carried (approved). - Accept annual financial report as presented by Mueller, Seegers, Gilbert & Moss (audit) — motion carried (approved). - Approve $2,500 to Los Hermanos Cinco de Mayo parade (Precinct 3), funded from unclaimed funds permissible under Texas property and local government code — motion carried (approved). - Approve $1,500 to a "Let's Go Fishing" community event, funded from unclaimed funds — motion carried (approved). - Approve transfer/disposal of surplus/salvage property per Local Government Code §§262.011 and 263.152(c) — motion carried (approved). - Approve FY 2026 pay bands — motion carried (approved). - Amend and approve appointment of Justices of the Peace (all four precincts) as hearing officers/examiners under the county game room ordinance (sections 2.4(b) and 2.5 referenced on the agenda) — motion carried (approved). - Approve 30‑day burn ban for the Buffalo Springs, Ransom Canyon, Roosevelt and Slayton fire‑response districts — motion carried (approved). - Award IFB 5021 (asphalt mixes) to all four responsive vendors for remainder of FY25 (use order by price and availability) — motion carried (approved).

What the court did not do The court took no executive session at the end of the meeting and did not report any closed‑door actions.

Looking ahead Court notices listed several upcoming public events, including the Go Blue Lubbock County kickoff for Child Abuse Awareness Month on April 2 and the Expo Central board meeting on April 9. County staff and presenters said work continues on FY 2026 budget planning and on updates to purchasing and p‑card policies pending potential state legislative changes.

Ending: The court adjourned following the listed business and scheduled public notices.