ACC Board calls for Pflugerville ISD annexation election

The Austin Community College District Board of Trustees officially called for an annexation election in Pflugerville ISD. The board voted unanimously during its regular meeting Monday, August 13.

Voters will go to the polls on November 6; early voting runs October 22 through November 2. Only registered voters in the Pflugerville ISD territory that is not currently within the ACC District will be eligible to cast ballots.

Pflugerville Friends 4 ACC, a steering committee composed of Pflugerville ISD residents, collected signatures from local registered voters as required per Texas Education Code in order for an annexation election to take place. The committee gathered 3,556 voter signatures.

The college published a service plan for the area, including the services and programs that ACC would bring to the community should voters elect to join the district. The plan includes:

  • A brick-and-mortar campus/center with core curriculum courses that lead to transfer along with workforce programs in high-demand fields such as healthcare, IT, and advanced manufacturing.
  • Student support services including advising, admissions and records, academic counseling, career counseling, financial aid, and student life.
  • Customized training to assist businesses and organizations in their employee training.
  • Access to degrees and/or certificates in transfer, career pathways, and Continuing Education non-credit.
  • “Access” programs such as English-as-a Second Language (ESL), GED, and Adult Basic Education to prepare people for entering college credit programs.
  • Credit or non-credit entry-level, and re-entry job-training programs that can be completed in one year or less.

Should voters decide to become part of the ACC District, homeowners would pay the ACC property tax proposed at $0.1048 per $100 valuation for the coming fiscal year. The total tax rate includes a maintenance and operations rate of $0.09 and $.0148 for debt service. It is among the lowest of all Texas community colleges. ACC also offers a standard $5,000 homestead exemption, and senior citizens and homeowners with disabilities receive an additional $160,000 exemption, for a total exemption of $165,000.

In exchange for paying the property tax, Pflugerville residents would have access to comprehensive college programs and services as well as much lower tuition and fees. Currently, in-district students pay $85 per credit hour in tuition and fees, compared with $361 per credit hour for out-of-district students (effective 2018-19). Residents within the ACC District also are eligible to run for and vote in elections of the ACC Board of Trustees.

While ACC encourages communities to explore the benefits and costs of joining the district, the college does not advocate for or against any such initiative. The decision on whether to join the ACC District rests solely with the voters within those territories. For more information on annexation and to see the Pflugerville ISD service plan, visit austincc.edu/annexation.

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