The Austin Community College District board of trustees announced June 15 that it unanimously accepted a petition seeking to place an ACC annexation item on the ballot this November.
If approved, the ballot measure would annex Pflugerville ISD's territory into the ACC taxing district, allowing students living within PfISD's boundaries to access ACC's in-district tuition rates and more.
How we got here
According to an ACC news release, the petition was accepted during a special board meeting June 15. Residents within the PfISD enrollment boundaries were required to collect signatures from at least 5% of registered voters living within the proposed annexed territory in order to bring the petition before the board, per the Texas Education Code.
The petition garnered 5,483 signatures, surpassing the required 3,988 signature threshold.
What you need to know
Per the release, residents would immediately qualify for ACC's in-district tuition and fee rate of $85 per credit hour if annexation is approved.
Students who live outside the ACC District currently pay $286 per credit hour with a $201 out-of-district fee. While recent high school graduates living within PfISD's bounds are already eligible for ACC's free tuition program, students still remain responsible for the out-of-district fee, the release stated.
As a part of initiating the annexation effort, the ACC board also authorized the publication of a proposed plan with the programs, services and benefits that would become available to residents should the area be annexed. The plan includes:
- In-district tuition and fees for all residents living within PfISD boundaries
- Expanded collaboration with PfISD to develop career academies in health sciences, advanced manufacturing and skilled trades
- A partnership with the district's new Career and Technical Education facility to expand dual credit and workforce credentials
- Access to ACC's four bachelor's degree programs in nursing, cybersecurity, software development, and advanced manufacturing
- Access to ACC student support services, including advising, admissions and records, academic counseling, career counseling, financial aid and student life
Annexed residents would also be eligible to run for the ACC board of trustees and vote in ACC board elections, per the release.
PfISD officials told Community Impact that the district does not have additional information to share at this time.
Something to note
Per the release, ACC's current property tax rate is $0.1034 per $100 of assessed valuation. The community college district provides a general homestead exemption of at least $5,000, or 1% of a home's assessed value if greater. Seniors and homeowners with disabilities also receive an additional $75,000 exemption, and can have their ACC property taxes frozen at the amount paid when they first qualified for the exemption.
Looking ahead
A public hearing is scheduled to take place July 16 at 5 p.m. at PfISD's Learning and Technology Center, located at 1601 W. Pecan St. in Pflugerville. The hearing will be livestreamed on the ACC website and rebroadcast on ACCTV.
