TEXARKANA, Texas - Texarkana College's Board of Trustees will vote on a proposed half-cent tax increase during their regular meeting Monday.
It will be held at 11:30 a.m. in the Patman Room of the Truman Arnold Student Center, 2500 North Robison Road, Texarkana, Texas.
They will consider a rate of $0.123081 per $100 of taxable property value. The current tax rate is $0.118115 per $100 in taxable value.
If approved, the increase would give the college an additional $300,000 to repay $10 million in municipal bonds taken from Farmers Bank in February to address deferred maintenance and repair issues campus-wide, including bringing buildings into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Heating and air system replacement and parking lot and improvements will also be completed with the bond funds. Bringing the campus into ADA compliance and modernizing instructional space is a top priority in the college's 2018-19 Strategic Plan.
Texarkana College ranks tenth lowest in taxes of the state's 50 community colleges and has the highest completion.
Tax rates were last raised in August 2017 from $0.110718 to $0.118115, which generated $340,000 for the college's budget.
TC President Dr. Jason Smith said the state is giving less to community colleges each year. In 1986, 66% of community college funding was from state funds and that was reduced to 23% in 2018.
Rates were also increased in 2016. Trustees planned on raising taxes in 2015, but an anonymous donor gave the college $1 million to not raise rates for at least one year.
In 2011, billionaire Ross Perot, a TC alum, gave the school $1 million per year for five years and that funding ended in 2016. Voters also approved the college's annexation of Bowie County in 2012.
Trustees will also consider closing the Drug and Alcohol Abuse Counseling associate of applied science program and the drug and alcohol abuse counseling certificate program for new students. Administration has recommended closing the program due to limited employment opportunities in this services area. Students previously enrolled in the program will be allowed to complete the program by fall 2021.
The board will also consider a memorandum of understanding with the Sulphur River Basin Authority for the annual Clean Rivers Program, which monitors water quality in the basin.