LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – The impact of Lubbock County’s no-new-revenue tax rate is starting to be felt as volunteer fire departments are missing out on a portion of funding they’ve received for the last several years.
The issue came to a head during Monday morning’s commissioners court meeting, where what has become a routine agenda item hit a roadblock.
Commissioners unanimously approved “critical needs” funding for Lubbock county’s volunteer fire departments. But because of budget shortfalls due to commissioner’s approving the no-new-revenue property tax rate in August, that funding was slashed in half for 2026.
“This budget has cut law enforcement and has cut fire departments, has cut courts, has cut clerks, has cut every single department in this county, except for parks and clubhouses,” County Judge Curtis Parrish said.
Commissioner Cary Shaw defended the court’s decision, saying the no-new-revenue rate is saving money for the citizens of Lubbock County.
Parrish says that tax rate decision is now directly impacting public safety.
Seven years ago, Parrish and the court created the Critical Needs Funding program to help the county’s volunteer fire departments purchase new equipment — specifically items their regular budgets wouldn’t be able to cover.
“That in itself, that program that Judge Parrish initially dreamed up has put Lubbock County firefighters light years ahead of where they were,” said Tim Smith, chief at West Carlisle Volunteer Fire Department.
Smith said the funding has helped purchase essential equipment like bunker gear, air packs, hoses and nozzles.
“We’re not buying stuff just to buy stuff. We’re buying stuff that we should have been buying over the years, but we just didn’t have the funds,” he said.
The county’s volunteer fire departments have regularly split the allotted $500,000 in Critical Needs funding. This year, that line item was cut in half, so each department is receiving about $22,000.
“Public safety is important. And when you base your whole message on public safety, it kind of gives us a bad feeling when you allow it to be cut so freely,” Smith said.
West Carlisle is using its reduced funding to finish purchasing a backup generator, after a tornado earlier this year tore off the station’s roof and knocked out power. However, that means new hoses and nozzles will have to wait.
Despite the funding challenges, Smith emphasized the department’s commitment to service.
“Now, as volunteer fire departments, we’re not going to let it slow us down. You’re still going to receive well-trained, well-equipped firefighters within a few minutes of your 911 call. We promise to uphold that to the best of our abilities despite what funding comes our way,” he said.
Smith says commissioners voted based on what they were hearing from their constituents. If Lubbock County residents want their volunteer fire departments to see the full Critical Needs funding to return next year, he encourages them to give their commissioners a call.
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