The Austin Community College District Board of Trustees adopted a $235 million balanced budget for 2010-11 on July 5. The board took a judicious approach to reducing costs, allowing for necessary growth without impacting student services.
“ACC is in a strong fiscal position, and we want to make sure it stays that way,” said Dr. Stephen B. Kinslow, ACC president/CEO. “This budget will allow us to expand key programs and services as demand and enrollment rapidly increase.”
The board eliminated the property tax exemption for designated historic homes and buildings in this budget. The change will generate about $250,000 to be given in stipends to full-time, permanent employees (up to $200 each) to help offset rising health insurance costs.
The budget includes the $3 per hour in-district tuition increase approved by the board in May. State funding is projected to decrease by several million dollars in this budget cycle.
Property tax revenue also are projected to decrease in the upcoming fiscal year because of a decline in home values. The property tax rate will remain essentially unchanged – about 9½ cents per $100 valuation; the exact amount will not be determined until the property tax rolls are certified in August. The average taxpayer, with a $245,000 home, is expected to see the ACC property tax bill decline by about $12 for the year. The college offers a standard $5,000 home exemption plus a $105,000 exemption for seniors and homeowners with disabilities.
The budget does not include an across-the-board raise for employees.
“The board has worked hard over the past several years to bring all employees’ salaries to market competitive rates,” says Dr. Barbara Mink, chair of the ACC Board of Trustees. “In light of continued fiscal challenges and uncertainties, opting to not include an across-the-board raise is a prudent decision at this time.”
During the board meeting, President Kinslow made a $15,000 donation to the ACC Foundation for scholarships. That amount includes a $13,738 market adjustment to his salary approved by the board that night and a personal donation of $1,262. The funds will be used to help students in need access higher education and training.
The Board of Trustees also adopted the 2011-13 Master Plan. The comprehensive strategy encompasses the needs of the entire institution and lays out the board’s vision for the future. The Master Plan connects college operations to ACC’s fundamental goals of meeting enrollment targets, expanding instructional capacity, enhancing student success, and expanding fiscal capacity.
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By Ham Sammie July 20, 2010 - 4:04 pm
Why are our tuitions going up then?
Why are teachers pushed into tiny “offices” with ten other teachers? Why is the gym and other facilities 20 years old? yes the grass and outside of the buildings are nice to draw you in but the infrastructure is crumbling. And there ACC goes…building more and more satellite campuses stretching themselves thinner and thinner and thinner.
While teachers and students foot the bill.
How much do the heads of this business get a year I’d like to know.
Why doesn’t anyone publish THIS information?
By mreyes July 21, 2010 - 4:00 pm
ACC increased in-district tuition by $3 per credit hour to cover rising costs from increased enrollment and other needs. (See the story.) While ACC remains the most affordable college or university in the area, many students find paying for classes a challenge. To help them out, the college has introduced a tuition installment plan that spreads payments over the semester. Check it out at the tuition installment webpage.