BLINN BOARD ADOPTS RESOLUTION SETTING TAX RATE, HEARS UPDATE ON MASTER PLAN
The Blinn Board of Trustees adopted a resolution setting the 2021 tax rate at its meeting Tuesday.
The board adopted the no new revenue tax rate of $0.0513 per $100 valuation, below 2020's tax rate of $0.0560 per $100 while still generating approximately the same amount of tax revenue at $2,195,007. The new rate is also below the voter approval rate of $0.0534 per $100.
Vice Chancellor Richard Cervantes noted that this new tax rate is actually identical to the one adopted by the College 15 years ago.
With the new rate, residents of Blinn’s taxing district in Washington County would pay $4.28 in monthly taxes on a $100,000 home. Blinn’s tax rate is expected to remain the lowest among the state’s 50 community college districts and represents less than 2 percent of the College’s annual budget.
During a workshop prior to the regular meeting, trustees discussed the districtwide facilities master plan that was approved in June. The workshop included discussion of the proposed order and financing plans for 16 Phase 1 projects across Blinn’s Brenham, Bryan and RELLIS Campuses.
Approximately $170.6 million is accounted for in total project costs through the first phase of the plan, which extends over the next five years. Some of the projects are already under construction, such as the Science, Technology, Engineering and Innovation Building on the Brenham Campus, which has a grand opening ceremony scheduled for Friday, August 27th at 10 a.m. Project Director Mark Feldhake said the master plan is a living document and that its list of projects can be adjusted.
The full master plan document can be seen at www.blinn.edu/master-plan.
Also on Tuesday, the board authorized the College to negotiate a contract with Madison Construction, LP of Bryan for construction manager at risk services related to repairs and improvements in the Old Main Building on the Brenham Campus. It also approved College administrators to negotiate with FedEx for districtwide copy and print services.