San Marcos annexation may lower student tuition

Citizens of San Marcos may soon be paying in-district tuition at Austin Community College if a proposed annexation goes into effect. If passed, the immediate impact would be a reduction of tuition for more than 700 San Marcos residents who currently attend ACC, an increase of businesses in the area and a more educated workforce.

On May 13, San Marcos residents vote on a proposed San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District annexation with the ACC district.

"This immediate impact of reduction of tuition is substantial," said Albert Sierra, chairperson of a local steering committee of San Marcos residents known as the San Marcos/ACC Yes! coalition.

The SMACCY coalition consists of business and civic leaders, educators, elected officials and others interested in expanding educational opportunities and access in San Marcos. With one goal in mind, the coalition collected more than 2,200 voter signatures to put the annexation on the May ballot.

If the proposal passes, San Marcos residents will pay $39 per credit hour instead of the Out-of-District $102 per credit hour, a savings of more than half. They can also vote in elections of the ACC Board of Trustees.

The SMACCY coalition claims an ACC campus in San Marcos is needed to attract more high school graduates and adults who are under-educated. The two current ACC centers in San Marcos have extremely limited courses; a comprehensive campus will allow them to expand their education and meet their needs.

Joining the ACC district will give SMCISD residents more affordable educational opportunities. "We have a lot of older non-traditional types of students too that are trying to better their lives," said Sierra. "ACC opens the door for that type of student."

San Marcos has had opportunities before to have these types of industries established. Sierra said that it did not happen because San Marcos did not have an educated workforce to meet their needs.

Starting with the tax bill due in January 2007, San Marcos residents would pay the ACC property tax, approximately $6.90 per month for the typical San Marcos home value of $87,883. Senior citizens will not pay ACC taxes.

If voters approve of San Marcos joining the ACC district, construction of the new campus will begin in 2007.