The Austin Community College District Board of Trustees approved a $406-million budget for the 2019-20 school year.
According to ACC officials, the budget represents a 5.7-percent increase over the 2018-19 budget. New expenses include expanded operations at ACC Highland, which is set to open in fall 2020, and increased faculty, staff, and equipment. It also includes a 3-percent cost-of-living raise for employees.
Trustees voted in May to keep tuition and fee rates for in-district students unchanged for the sixth consecutive year. Trustees also approved lowering distance education courses by $75 per credit hour for out-of-district students, and $81 per credit hour for out-of-state and international students.
“Nationwide, we’ve seen the cost of college rise. Affordability is a large and growing concern. We are committed to finding new ways of keeping costs down and ensuring access for everyone,” says Gigi Edwards Bryant, ACC Board of Trustees chair. “I am proud we can approve a balanced budget that takes care of our students’ needs and provides competitive salaries for all employees.”
To offset the rising cost of property taxes, a standard $5,000 exemption for all homeowners was also approved. An additional homestead exemption also remains available for seniors and those with disabilities totaling $160,000.
