AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE ADOPTED A TAX RATE THAT WILL RAISE MORE TAXES FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS THAN LAST YEAR'S TAX RATE. THE TAX RATE WILL EFFECTIVELY BE RAISED BY 2.6 PERCENT AND WILL RAISE TAXES FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS ON A $100,000 HOME BY APPROXIMATELY $2.62.

The Austin Community College District (ACC) Board of Trustees adopted the 2020-21 tax rate during the Board's regular meeting on Monday, September 14.

The approved tax rate of $0.1058 per $100 of valuation remains among the lowest of community colleges statewide. It includes $0.09 for maintenance & operations and $0.0158 for debt service.

Based on the adopted rate, the amount of taxes imposed on a home valued at $360,000 will be about $375 for the year or $31.29/month.

Exemptions

To offset the impact of increased property appraisals, the college offers several exemption options. 

• Homestead exemption:  ACC provides a $5,000 homestead exemption to all residential taxpayers (or 1% of property value, whichever is greater)
• Exemption for seniors (65+) and homeowners with disabilities:  The College also provides a $164,000 exemption for senior taxpayers and homeowners with disabilities, for a total exemption of $169,000 for those taxpayers. This is an increase of $4,000 over last year's exemption to offset the impact of increased property appraisals and is the most generous exemption policy in the region.
• Commercial property owners:  Commercial properties are taxed at the same rate as residential property; however, per Texas Property Tax Code, commercial properties are taxed on both real property and personal property, while residential properties are only taxed on real property.

Annual Budget

Community colleges are funded in three ways: through student tuition and fees, state funding, and property taxes. 

About 60 percent of ACC's annual budget comes from its property tax revenue. The region's increasing property values and new growth allow the college to balance reductions in state support, which has dropped from approximately 40 percent to roughly 16 percent of ACC's annual budget in recent years. Tuition and fees make up the remaining budget. The board previously voted to maintain in-district tuition rates for the seventh consecutive year. At $67 per credit, ACC in-district tuition is the most affordable among area colleges and universities.

For more information, visit the college’s property tax informational webpage.