The Austin Community College District Board of Trustees adopted a $272 million budget for 2012-13 June 4, allowing the college to continue its focus on student success. The budget represents a 2.6 percent increase over the 2011-12 budget.

“This budget represents the commitment of ACC staff and the board to keeping the college moving forward,” says Dr. Barbara Mink, chair of the ACC Board of Trustees. “This is still a difficult economic time, but the budget allows us to continue making progress toward our goal of enhancing success for all students.”

Board members also adopted the college’s 2013-15 Master Plan as part of the annual review and update of ACC’s comprehensive strategy for the future. The plan’s core goals (enhancing student success, meeting enrollment targets, expanding instructional capacity, and expanding fiscal capacity) are designed to meet the educational needs of the community as well as business and industry. The Master Plan drives budgetary decisions.

“The college is extremely grateful for the board’s thoughtful approach to the budget and Master Plan,” says Dr. Richard Rhodes, ACC president/CEO. “By closely tying institutional planning to budgetary considerations, ACC is well positioned for the future.”

As part of the budget process, trustees previously set the fall 2012 in-district tuition rate at $62 per credit hour, a $5 increase over the spring/summer 2012 rate. The board set the out-of-district rate at $224 per credit hour ($62 tuition plus $162 out-of-district fee).

“That was not an easy step to take, but it is a modest increase that allows us to provide critical programs and support services,” says Dr. Mink. “ACC remains the most affordable college education in Central Texas.”

The budget incorporates a 3 percent raise for full-time faculty and staff (with adjunct faculty raises prorated based on workload) to offset cost-of-living increases.

The college’s property tax rate will be set after tax rolls are certified this summer; the rate is expected to remain essentially unchanged – about 9½ cents per $100 valuation. Tax revenues are expected to increase approximately 5 percent this year.

The college currently offers a standard $5,000 homestead exemption plus a $115,000 exemption for seniors and homeowners with disabilities. The board modified its policy on historical property exemptions Monday night, implementing a cap on the exemption amount. The board will determine next year’s exemptions with the adoption of the tax rate later this summer.