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<\/p>\nHopes for a November election related to Civic Center improvements are likely on hold \u2013 more realistic next year as city officials sharpen the project\u2019s financial picture.<\/p>\n
The City Council took no official action last week during a budget workshop, but the consensus seemed to be an election in March or November 2027 would be better for increasing Lubbock\u2019s hotel occupancy tax (HOT) which is not the only funding source. But it\u2019s an important one.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not going to be ready to go to a vote in November \u2013 just don\u2019t see any way that we can be ready,\u201d said Mark McBrayer, mayor.<\/p>\n
Gordon Harris, councilman for District 2, said, \u201cThe question is why?\u201d<\/p>\n
McBrayer answered, \u201cThere\u2019s still so much work we have to do to nail down costs and everything. And when you go to the voters, you need to be \u2013 I feel like \u2013 we need to be very clear with them about what we\u2019re doing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Plans were updated in April after the public was allowed to voice a preference between two design plans. They were updated again just before the budget workshop.<\/p>\n
McBrayer told the council, \u201cI always wanted a November vote. But more important than anything, I want a vote that succeeds and that we\u2019re ready for. So that means putting it off.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jarrett Atkinson, city manager, pointed out the deadline is coming up soon to call for a ballot issue in the November election, saying, \u201cThat decision has to be made the first meeting in August.\u201d<\/p>\n
Atkinson also said, \u201cI think we would be running with somewhat low confidence numbers.\u201d<\/p>\n
He told the council there is a concept-level budget but, \u201cWe continue to try to develop the most accurate budget that we can get.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know that I\u2019m where I can put a number out. \u2026 My fear is whatever number you put out suddenly became \u2018the number,\u2019\u201d Atkinson said.<\/p>\n
Atkinson compared the process to asking Lubbock voters to approve a road bond. It does not go to voters until certain things are nailed down.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen the council takes a street bond out, we can tell you exactly what road we\u2019re going to work on \u2013 the road it\u2019s going to be. It\u2019s three lanes. It\u2019s five lanes. It\u2019s drainage. We have all that and a unique cost per segment,\u201d Atkinson said.<\/p>\n
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\t\tCivic Center site plan. Credit: Public meeting in April 2026.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s not to say the city stopped moving forward.<\/p>\n
In the last legislative session, Texas authorized Lubbock to create a project financing zone (PFZ). Atkinson said it allows Lubbock to keep new growth on hotel taxes within a 3-mile radius of the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center.<\/p>\n
Money that would otherwise go to Austin, instead stays in Lubbock.<\/p>\n
\u201cI recommend that we trigger the PFZ in August of 2026, so next month,\u201d Atkinson told the City Council.<\/p>\n
That puts Lubbock on a 5-year deadline to initiate the project. Atkinson said that\u2019s plenty of time and does not make the city \u201cnervous.\u201d<\/p>\n
How much is the PFZ worth? The official estimate from the Texas Comptroller is $121.7 million between now and 2055.<\/p>\n
The funding sources would be:<\/p>\n
Project Financing Zone (PFZ)<\/p>\n
Dedicating a portion of the existing HOT<\/p>\n
A new venue tax (which is an increase in the HOT)<\/p>\n
Private contributions<\/p>\n
Atkinson emphasized none of the money will come from local property taxes.<\/p>\n
He said Lubbock\u2019s delegation to the State Legislature went to great lengths to help Lubbock. He mentioned Representative (and House Speaker) Dustin Burrows, Representative Carl Tepper and State Senator Charles Perry by name.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to show them that we\u2019re moving forward with the project,\u201d Atkinson said.<\/p>\n
The renovation and expansion of the Civic Center would include a new 60,000 square foot space. An existing area would then be converted to a 40,000 square foot space for events. The south end would be reworked as the \u201cfront\u201d to invite business development including a new hotel across the street from the Civic Center.<\/p>\n
McBrayer estimated breaking ground on construction in mid-2028 or early 2029.<\/p>\n
Atkinson said, \u201cI think your fast track would be breaking ground late in the first quarter of \u201828.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tim Collins, councilman for District 6, said, \u201cI think we can we can share our desires to improve downtown and continue that redevelopment and to make this a very attractive place.\u201d<\/p>\n
But to convince voters, he thought the city might create a \u201ccommunity benefit analysis.\u201d<\/p>\n
Collins also thought it\u2019s important to offer voters a pro-forma \u2013 which is a financial forecast of the facility\u2019s revenue and operating costs.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is what the benefits that are going to occur \u2013 not only in the city\u2019s budget, but also to the community as a whole,\u201d Collins said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to be able to have some numbers to back that up,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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