ACC Annexation Passes in Elgin & Hays School Districts

ACC's Elgin site location

ACC's Elgin site location

Voters in two communities approved annexation into the Austin Community College District during elections held Tuesday, November 2, 2010. As a result, the Elgin and Hays school districts will soon be home to new ACC campuses.

“Elgin ISD and Hays CISD are now full partners in the regional ACC District,” says Dr. Stephen B. Kinslow, ACC president/CEO. “We welcome those residents and look forward to delivering all the benefits of annexation, including dramatically lower tuition, expanded instructional programs and support services, as well as a more educated workforce, which is an asset to the entire community.”

The college has entered into contracts for 98 acres in Elgin and 96 acres in Kyle. ACC will break ground on both new campuses early next year; they will open fall 2013.

Elgin ISD and Hays CISD residents are immediately eligible for in-district tuition. Students who have already registered and paid for spring classes will receive a reimbursement for the difference between the out-of-district rate and the in-district rate – a tuition reduction of 72 percent, from $150 per credit hour down to $42 per hour. As soon as the election is certified, the college will begin processing those refunds.

ACC North Hays property

The measure passed in Elgin ISD by 61 percent, or 2,494 to 1,567. In Hays CISD, 59 percent of voters approved the measure, or 6,931 to 4,924.

Annexation initiatives did not pass in San Marcos CISD (5,109 to 6,132), Bastrop ISD (4,750 to 5,847), and McDade ISD (147 to 343).

College officials had strong praise for all the annexation steering committees, composed of volunteers who worked for months circulating petitions and campaigning in support of annexation efforts in their communities.

“Local steering committees worked diligently to bring these opportunities to their area,” says Dr. Barbara Mink, chair of the ACC Board of Trustees. “The need for higher education and training will only increase over time, so these initial efforts were important discussions for their residents and will likely continue as these communities grow.”

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