BLINN BOARD TO DISCUSS BUDGET/TAX RATE

  

The Blinn College Board of Trustees will consider adopting the budget and discuss the tax rate during its meeting, Tuesday at 6:30pm.

During the meeting, to be held on the third floor of the Brenham campus Administration Building at 802 Green St., the board will consider adoption of a $106.8 million budget for Fiscal Year 2016. The board previously reviewed the budget during workshops July 29 and Aug. 4.

The board will also consider the 2015 tax rate. The Washington County Appraisal District has calculated the effective tax rate at 5.57-cents per $100 valuation, which equates to $55.70 in annual taxes on a $100,000 home and would generate $1.68 million in total revenue.

The Board may consider the effective tax rate, or propose an alternative, up to the rollback rate of 6.02 cents per $100 valuation. If the effective tax rate is approved, it will go into effect immediately.

If the board proposes a tax rate that exceeds this rate, the College will schedule public hearings and vote on the proposed rate during its regular September meeting.

In other business, the board will consider authorizing a request for qualifications for additional student housing on the Brenham campus. Steven Adams of Specialized Public Finance, Inc. will be available to answer questions regarding the College’s financing options. Blinn’s Brenham campus currently houses 1,322 students, more than any other community college in the state. Despite this, there are currently more than 400 students on the waiting list for Fall semester housing.

The board will also consider action to seek a request for qualifications for a construction manager at risk for the development of the new Bryan campus at Leonard Road and F.M. 2818.