My colleague Scott Cameron recently stated that “the annexation of Pflugerville into Austin Community College district is a goal we should all set in the elections to come”.
I think Scott is absolutely right; everyone will have opportunity to get benefit from the proposal. Already one-third of Pflugerville ISD exists in the Austin Community College District (ACCD), and it receives a much lower in-district tuition rate. Based on some data, already more than 50 percent of Pflugerville ISD graduates who enter higher education go through ACCD. Similarly more than 50 percent of adults in the area who start college start at ACCD. The tuition fee for out-of-district is $150 per credit hour, and $42 for in-district. As Scott pointed the savings of annexation can be, on average, up to $6,000 or more on a two year program. The money saved on tuition may be good for economy of community. Scott found that there are some children who are moving to within Austin city limits to attend the community college after graduation. I think it is not good for community to loose its members due to affordability of community college.
Some residents who do not have college going kids may resist why they should pay more taxes. But they need to understand that a community college is a best way to increase community education that will eventually impact economic prosperity of a community. Even if there is no child who may go to college, the resident herself/himself can take classes in affordable manner. The affordable college would be a good way of retooling skills sets in this tough economic time. The more educated a community is, the higher individual’s earnings are. That will increase business in community, which will bring more tax, and the money can be reinvested into community’s economy.
Even though tax will increase, a strong community college will be an investment in economic growth. It will have direct impact on the economic well-being of a community. ACCD will offer higher education to the people who are financially and/or academically not able to go to a four-year institution. So I think Pflugerville should join ACCD and get in-district tuition fee. If a strong community college like ACCD is available in the community, it benefits the entire community. It can provide substantial economic benefits to individual students, local communities and the state as a whole. According to study done by Texas Comptroller office, for every dollar invested in colleges, the community sees a return over $5. Another thing to note is if Pflugerville gets in-district more people may move to the city which will bring more money to the city.
References:
http://www.statesman.com/news/local/acc-ready-for-next-growth-spurt-183009.html?cxtype=rss_news_36716
http://www.austincc.edu/ehs/pdf/GeneralUpdates10-4-05.pdf
http://pflugervillepflag.com/2010/04/15/community-shows-interest-in-acc-nothing-in-the-works/
http://www.window.state.tx.us/specialrpt/highered05/
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