ACC continues to make progress toward breaking ground on the new Hays Campus, as the college awaits a decision on a challenge to the November 2010 Hays CISD annexation election. Ray Wolbrecht – the resident who filed the challenge – recently submitted an appeal to the Texas Supreme Court. ACC has filed a response.

All rulings throughout the case have been favorable to ACC, and a decision in late July dismissed Mr. Wolbrecht’s appeal. Mr. Wolbrecht has asked the Texas Supreme Court to weigh in on the case after previously missing the court’s deadline and receiving an extension.

The Texas Supreme Court will now decide if it will consider the appeal. If the court accepts the case, it will have the final word; if the court rejects the case, the decision by the Third Court of Appeals to dismiss the challenge will stand.

Mr. Wolbrecht’s decision to file the Texas Supreme Court appeal will push back the college’s plans to secure bonds for project funding. ACC hopes to be able to reinitiate the bond issuance process in early 2012 and to take advantage of low interest rates.

Despite the ongoing legal challenge, ACC is moving forward with planning for the Hays Campus. The project is in the middle of the schematic design phase, with the architect refining plans to reflect requests of ACC academic departments. The schematic design should be complete in mid-December. When the legal challenge is over, the college will be able to finalize the project budget, groundbreaking date, and construction timeline.

ACC will continue to keep the college and community updated on the status of the case and issue a press release when the Texas Supreme Court makes a decision. Hays Campus updates also are available online; visit austincc.edu/hays.

The Hays challenge has not affected plans for the new Elgin Campus. ACC broke ground on Elgin Campus in November 2011; the campus is scheduled to open in August 2013.