In short, it’s about damned time! Round Rock ISD agreed to this a decade ago and they are some of the loudest bitchers about their property taxes.
The decision isn’t up to ACC’s board, it is up to the electorate who make up PSID’s tax-paying base. I am a member of this despite living in what’s labeled unincorporated Pflugerville (Pflugerville PD and Water doesn’t service us, we depend upon Travis County PD and Austin for these respectively). How much this will raise my property taxes is a pittance compared to how much we all would benefit form this. According to the tax math, the hike can easily be canceled out by the difference in tuition for just two classes; so right now, a standard, three-hour course runs about $1000 for us. With the annexation it would under $300.
Obviously there are those who are going to bitch and push for a “no” vote. If it’s anything like the Hospital Zone we voted for (Austin/Travis County used to be the largest urban setting in the US lacking this), the opposition will be old Whiteys who already complain about the “browning” of our area. It’s hard to convince these people in how it’s a good investment in ourselves and future. More educated people equals more technical and white-collar jobs. In the age of Trumpkins, it’s hard to make the point when these idiots are more like Veruca Salt, demanding it all now.
The fly in the ointment is getting ACC to build a campus too. This may be hard. The Northridge Campus isn’t very far away and the question is what kind? As much as I would like a local branch, I feel it’s more of a quid pro quo matter. A Pflugerville campus should only be considered if it fills a gap left by Northridge and Round Rock.
Now to look over the catalog, see what’s at Northridge I’m missing out on.