The Austin Community College District (ACC) Board of Trustees met for its regular meeting on Monday, August 5. During the meeting, trustees discussed the 2024-25 property tax rate, November election items, and approved a series of contracts.
More information and additional highlights from the meeting are below.
Approval of November ballot item for annexation of Lockhart ISD
The Board of Trustees unanimously approved an order calling a special annexation election for the territory of Lockhart Independent School District. The item will be added to the November general election ballot, allowing Lockhart ISD voters to decide on annexation. If approved, residents living within the Lockhart ISD territory will receive in-district benefits immediately.
For more information on the full-service plan and tax information, visit austincc.edu/lockhart.
November election, joint election, and three board seats
The board approved a joint election agreement and contracts for election services for counties within the College’s service district—Bastrop, Caldwell, Lee, Hays, Travis, and Williamson counties.
Three seats on the ACC Board of Trustees are up for election in November. Board members serve a six-year term. That term expires this year for trustees in Places 7, 8 & 9. The candidate filing period for these seats ends on August 19. The general election is Tuesday, November 5.
Learn more HERE.
2024-25 property tax rate
ACC Trustees proposed a new tax rate for the College for 2024-25. The board is considering a no-new-revenue tax rate of $0.1013 (10.13 cents) per $100 valuation, consisting of $0.0881 for Maintenance and Operations and $0.0132 for Debt Service. The proposed rate would mean the average property tax bill would not increase.
Learn more HERE.
Financial report
ACC Finance & Administration Executive Vice Chancellor Neil Vickers presented an update to the Fiscal Year 2024 summer semester financial report. It included year-to-date revenues and expenses, plus year-end projections.
The report found that ACC’s budget remains on track and projects a positive $57.5 million surplus. It also found additional revenue in tuition, with fall, spring, and summer enrollment up several percentage points higher than the 2% projected growth. Cash and investments are in line with estimations.
Free rides to campus through Green Pass continue
Trustees voted unanimously to extend the ACC Green Pass program, which provides FREE rides on CapMetro services to most college employees and currently enrolled students. The program is funded by the College’s $1 Sustainability Fee. The board reviews the College’s contract with CapMetro each year.
Read more about the program HERE.
Board approves series of contracts
The board approved a series of contracts for the College to negotiate and execute. First, for iConnect HVAC and Plumbing Training Equipment for ACC’s Continuing Education Program with Advanced Technologies Consultants. The $185,000 contract is included in the 2024 Department of Education Fast Track Career Training Center. It would provide training equipment for students.
Second, trustees approved the College administration’s negotiation and execution of a contract for a digital radiographic equipment system for ACC’s Diagnostic Medical Imaging (DMI) Radiology Department at the Round Rock Campus and the decertification and removal of the existing equipment. MXR Imaging Inc. will provide three new digital radiographic equipment systems. The cost for each unit is about $182,280.
Finally, the board approved the College’s negotiation and execution of a contract with Balfour Beatty Construction LLC for the construction and renovation(s) of the Round Rock Campus Student Support Center and Welcome Center. The renovation is part of the 2021 Maintenance Tax Note and is expected to cost $4.4 million.
Read more about the project HERE.