Message Board Purpose
The Trustee Message Board allows ACC Trustees to communicate and share information with each other between public meetings in compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act. Only Trustees and designated administrators have permission to post on the message board.
Tax Rate Setting Background
Quote from Steve Jackobs on September 3, 2025, 11:33 amIn our August Board meeting, I sought information to understand the dynamics of the setting of next year’s tax rate, a decision we will take on Monday. The issue is intricate and the question was called before there was adequate opportunity for discussion that might have provided the information I needed. On August 20, Neil provided a briefing to which several Trustees were invited. Sean and I participated. The briefing and discussion provided the information and explanation I needed.
Let me share the top takeaways as we prepare for Monday’s Board meeting.
- The modest, annual increase in tax revenue to service the bond debt was structured into the bond proposition the College presented to voters in 2022. Given their strong approval of the bonds, we can assume that voters understood and committed to the $5 annual step up ( for five years.) In fact, sales of the bonds last month went well and the tax rate will be modestly smaller.
- The budget we approved in July would be fully funded by an M&O (maintenance and operations) rate of 8.9 cents, a small amount below the 9.0 cents cap voters approved many years ago. The budget we approved included a small amount of net revenue projected to be needed in upcoming years. A modest increase of 0.1 cents to the full cap would provide a small amount of additional net revenue.
We discussed that it would be prudent to reserve an additional amount given the uncertainty of federal higher education support. In fact, Monday night the House Appropriations Committee released a budget proposal eliminating Adult Basic Education funding entirely, among other funding. I look forward to Monday’s meeting. Thanks to all.
In our August Board meeting, I sought information to understand the dynamics of the setting of next year’s tax rate, a decision we will take on Monday. The issue is intricate and the question was called before there was adequate opportunity for discussion that might have provided the information I needed. On August 20, Neil provided a briefing to which several Trustees were invited. Sean and I participated. The briefing and discussion provided the information and explanation I needed.
Let me share the top takeaways as we prepare for Monday’s Board meeting.
- The modest, annual increase in tax revenue to service the bond debt was structured into the bond proposition the College presented to voters in 2022. Given their strong approval of the bonds, we can assume that voters understood and committed to the $5 annual step up ( for five years.) In fact, sales of the bonds last month went well and the tax rate will be modestly smaller.
- The budget we approved in July would be fully funded by an M&O (maintenance and operations) rate of 8.9 cents, a small amount below the 9.0 cents cap voters approved many years ago. The budget we approved included a small amount of net revenue projected to be needed in upcoming years. A modest increase of 0.1 cents to the full cap would provide a small amount of additional net revenue.
We discussed that it would be prudent to reserve an additional amount given the uncertainty of federal higher education support. In fact, Monday night the House Appropriations Committee released a budget proposal eliminating Adult Basic Education funding entirely, among other funding. I look forward to Monday’s meeting. Thanks to all.
Trustee, Place 6