Boyd Goodloe answers ten questions for candidates who want to win District 4 special council election

Editor’s note: Candidates for the District 4 City Council election to replace Brayden Rose, who is stepping down, were sent the following questions. Stephanie Ferran did not respond by our deadline.

What are your three top priorities and what will you do about them if elected?

1. No property tax rate increase. We have had multiple years of rate increases combined with increased property valuations and new properties generating additional revenue. Higher rates, higher valuations and new properties have created more revenue from property taxes. In FY2026, property tax revenue generated $2,865,970 more revenue than the prior year’s budget of which $1,928,261 of the tax revenue generated is from new property added to the tax base roll. That means that the existing properties and tax rate increase only generated $937,709 of the new revenue. The property tax rate increase was unnecessary! My top priority is framed around financial responsibility and year-after-year-after-year of raising property tax rates on the citizens of Lubbock is not financial responsibility by City Council.
2. Infrastructure. We have crumbling streets in Lubbock. Just take a drive from 50^th and Indiana to South Loop 289 and look at the asphalt crumbling. Road bonds are addressing some of the roads and streets that have been neglected for too many years — but we have to prioritize our infrastructure maintenance.
3. First Responders. Our Police Department and Fire Department are both assets and vital to the health and safety of Lubbock. We need to continue to add police officers to continue to improve the quality of life for Lubbock citizens. Chief Herman’s leadership has improved crime statistics and we need to continue that momentum.

We have crumbling streets in Lubbock. Just take a drive from 50^th and Indiana to South Loop 289 and look at the asphalt crumbling. Road bonds are addressing some of the roads and streets that have been neglected for too many years — but we have to prioritize our infrastructure maintenance.

boyd goodloe

Should the city reconsider impact fees or go forward with road bonds?

I definitely believe the City Council should reconsider impact fees, but I believe that impact fees alone will not fully fund the needs we have relating to our streets. We are likely to have to go forward with road bonds in the near future to address our infrastructure needs — this goes back to past City Council decisions about priorities and financial responsibility.

What letter grade would you give Lubbock’s police and fire departments and why that grade?

I would give the Lubbock police and fire departments a letter grade of A. The Lubbock Police Department under the leadership of Chief Herman has had a positive impact on crime rates in Lubbock — impacting the quality of life for Lubbock citizens. The Lubbock Fire Department’s response to structural fires, incidents and emergencies has protected properties and saved lives. LPD and LFR are vital assets for the City of Lubbock and the quality of life for Lubbock citizens.

What’s your opinion about the city attracting AI hubs?

As a life-long Christian, I learned to stand for Affirmations of Faith because the physical act of standing matched the affirmation about the things you “stand for.” Here’s where I stand on AI hubs: There should be no tax abatements — AI hubs should pay property taxes like Lubbock homeowners. I believe the City Council should have public forums beginning as soon as possible in 2026 and 2027 for citizens to hear facts and share their concerns before any permits are issued. No permits issued until at least 2028 to give time for citizens of Lubbock to make their wishes clear.

Are you satisfied with the city’s water plans, or is there more to be done?

I believe the City of Lubbock long-term water plan positions Lubbock very favorably but that doesn’t mean there aren’t additional things that can be done to protect this precious resource. We should be strengthening conservation efforts including encouraging alternative landscaping on new and existing construction that uses less water, emphasizing good stewardship of water resources and continued exploration of technology that could reduce evaporation and water waste.

Over the next four years, what kind of leadership talent does the city need to hire in terms of skills and philosophy of local government?

I believe there are a lot of talented people working for the City of Lubbock with many gifts. Our philosophy of identifying skills that improve city government should focus on value-added personnel. We want people who work for the City of Lubbock to understand their role and accountability to the citizens and taxpayers of Lubbock and for those employees to have a constant fire to improve the quality of life for citizens of Lubbock in everything they do — every hour at work and every day at work.

What’s your opinion on business development and recruiting large employers to Lubbock?

Lubbock should be an attractive option for large employers due to wide-open spaces and a solid work-force with multiple colleges and Texas Tech University and Health Sciences Center. The Lubbock Economic Development Alliance does a good job of promoting opportunities for Lubbock and I believe they will continue to do so. 

There has been pressure on the city to stay at the no-new-revenue rate. Where do you stand and why?

I stand firmly in developing and adopting a City of Lubbock budget at a no-new-revenue rate and stand in firm opposition to raising the property tax rate. I believe many Lubbock citizens agree whole-heartedly with me that increases in property tax rates every year has to stop! With an annual budget of over $950,000,000, I can help find a way to meet our priorities as citizens and taxpayers without an increase in tax rate. A budget option that doesn’t require a tax rate increase — especially with increasing property valuations that naturally produce additional tax revenues without increasing the tax rate.

I believe discussions should continue and explore opportunities to have an aquatic center for citizens to enjoy.

boyd goodloe

What quality-of-life issues would you advocate the city invest in and why?

I believe that there has been a lot of discussions and anxiety around City of Lubbock not having any swimming pools. I believe discussions should continue and explore opportunities to have an aquatic center for citizens to enjoy.

Is there an important issue that might force you to take an unpopular vote and why?

I believe there would be a potential “unpopular vote” as it relates to delaying AI data center permits in 2026 and 2027. As I shared my stand on AI data center permits on a previous question, I believe we don’t need to react to an urgent request, but instead need to have public forums for citizens to hear facts and share their concerns and have their voices heard.

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