Lubbock City Council members currently receive a base salary of $25 per month, or $300 per year, separate from cellphone, vehicle allowances and other benefits, according to the city’s information page cited by Lubbock Lights. The mayor’s base salary is $75 per month, or $900 per year.
At a Tuesday work session, council members will discuss a broad charter review that could touch on council compensation, the initiative and referendum process, the city’s electrical utility, and other governance matters. Councilman David Bruegel said any pay increase would apply only to future council members, not those presently serving. “I don’t intend to raise the council pay,” Bruegel told Lubbock Lights, adding that he personally does not need a salary increase because the role fits his part‑time volunteer lifestyle.
The charter review agenda, scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in Citizens Tower rooms CT 201‑A and CT 201‑B, does not list a specific pay proposal but is expected to address the “big fish” of compensation, according to Bruegel. He also indicated the session may examine how residents place issues on the ballot, noting recent petitions involving Flock cameras as an example.
Before the public session, the council will meet privately on personnel matters concerning City Manager Jarrett Atkinson. Bruegel expressed confidence in Atkinson’s performance, stating the manager’s job is “quite secure” and that the closed‑door discussion reflects Atkinson’s request for additional feedback on his employment evaluation.
Other charter topics slated for discussion include a proposed settlement with Red Canyon Development to reimburse developers for lost impact‑fee credits, water‑use authority for future data‑center projects, and funding options for a new convention center. Bruegel could not provide the architectural cost for the convention center and said a public vote, if any, would be earliest in May, though no timetable is confirmed.
Additional agenda items involve a defense grant application with Texas Tech for the Reese National Security Complex, and the adoption of police and fire body‑camera systems.
What’s next: The charter review work session on Tuesday will determine whether council pay is amended and may set the stage for further debate on the convention‑center financing, data‑center regulations and utility oversight. Residents can follow council updates through the city’s website and upcoming public meetings.
Sources: lubbocklights.com
