LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Lubbock’s sales tax revenue is running 6% above what was budgeted for the current fiscal year, City Manager Jarrett Atkinson told the Lubbock City Council Tuesday.
The update comes after the city faced a $5 million shortfall in budgeted sales tax revenue last year, which forced spending cuts and a hiring freeze.
Atkinson said city management budgeted conservatively for this year and does not expect to repeat those measures. The city collected approximately $10.8 million in sales tax revenue in February, which reflects sales made in December.
Despite the improved revenue picture, the non-public safety hiring freeze remains in place. Atkinson said the city plans to evaluate open positions individually, considering whether two positions could be consolidated into one or whether a position continues to be needed going forward.
Instead, we are looking at those one position at a time, maybe two positions become one different one or do we continue to need them going forward,” Atkinson said.
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