BLINN BOARD PROPOSES SAME TAX RATE
Blinn trustees decided to maintain the current property tax rate at Tuesday evening’s meeting.
The board unanimously voted to keep the rate of $0.0601 per $100, the same rate as the past three years.
This rate is expected to yield an additional $25,648 in tax revenue, compared to 2018. It is estimated to bring in $1,973,274 in tax revenue for the Brenham campus.
The rate remains the lowest out of the state’s 50 community college districts, and will average $9.23 per month on the average Washington County home, valued at $184,266. The average Texas community college property tax rate is $0.1805.
The board will hold two public hearings on the tax rate, set for Tuesday, September 4th at noon, and Thursday, September 13th at 6 p.m. The board will look to adopt the rate at its meeting on Tuesday, September 18th at 6 p.m.
While Blinn services a 13-county area, only Washington County is within the College’s taxing district. Property tax revenue pays for approximately a third of the Blinn-Brenham Campus’s maintenance and operations costs, with student tuition and fees funding the rest of the costs. By law, property tax revenue cannot be used to fund campuses outside of the taxing district.
Blinn’s most recent economic impact study says state and local taxpayers receive a 9.4 percent annual return rate on their investment in the Blinn-Brenham Campus. For every dollar taxpayers spend on Blinn, they see $4.30 in savings and benefits. Each year, Blinn-Brenham and its students add approximately $83 million in income to the local economy.
Also at last night’s meeting, trustees allowed District Chancellor Dr. Mary Hensley to begin negotiating a student health services contract with Baylor Scott and White for the Brenham campus. Beginning September 17th, the Brenham Clinic will become an affiliate of Baylor Scott and White, losing its association with College Station RHC Company.
The board will also begin seeking qualification statements for a contractor for W.L. Moody Library renovations. Construction is slated to begin February 1, 2019, with a projected budget of $2 million. Funds will come from the repairs and renovations budget, as well as bond funds.
The board also received several reports at the meeting. During the enrollment and housing report, Vice Chancellor of Student Services Karen Buck said that 2,660 students are enrolled at the Brenham campus, compared to 2,283 students in 2017. Enrollment at the Bryan campus is down to 9,488 students this year, from 11,190 last year. She also reported full occupancy for campus housing at the Brenham campus, with 1,765 beds filled and over 300 students on a wait list.