MINUTES

Special Meeting – Board of Trustees

September 10, 2007

 

In accordance with the terms and provisions of the Texas Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551 of Texas Government Code, the Board of Trustees of the Austin Community College District convened in public session on Thursday, September 10, 2005, at  11:55 a.m. in the Board Room (201) of the Highland Business Center of Austin Community College located at 5930 Middle Fiskville Road, Austin, Texas, with the following members present: Mr. John Hernandez, Chair/Presiding Officer; Ms. Nan McRaven, Board Vice Chair; Dr. James W. McGuffee, Secretary; Mr. Allen H. Kaplan; Mr. Jeffrey Richard; and Mr. Rafael Quintanilla.  Trustees Lillian J. Davis, Barbara Mink, and Veronica Rivera were absent from the meeting.

 

It is further found and determined that in accordance with the policies and orders of this Board, the notice of this meeting has been posted and return thereof made pursuant to the terms and provisions of the Texas Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code, and there has been full compliance with the terms and provisions of said act, including the timely posting of the subjects of this meeting.

 

Items for Discussion and Possible Action

 

Agenda Item 8374

Adoption of 2007 (FY08) Tax Rate for Austin Community College District

Mr. Hernandez introduced the item and Mr. Ben Ferrell, Vice President for Business Services, stated the adopted Fiscal Year 2007 balanced budget requires a $0.900 Maintenance & Operation tax rate per $100 assessed tax rate and the tax debt service payment requires a $0.0058 Debt Service tax rate per $100 assessed value. 

 

He said the adopted FY2008 Budget included $74,880,000 of property tax operating revenue and $4,848,521 of property tax debt service.  The 2007 Proposed Tax Rate of $0.0958 is a decrease of 0.7% from the 2006 adopted tax rate of $0.0965.

 

MOTION:  Trustee Jeffrey Richard moved that the Board of Trustees of the Austin Community College District increase property taxes by the adoption of a tax rate of $0.958 (9.58 cents) per $100 assessed valuation.  Trustee Allen Kaplan seconded the motion.

VOTE:  The motion passed on a unanimous vote of 6-0.

FOR:  Mr. John F. Hernandez, Mr. Allen H. Kaplan, Dr. James W. McGuffee, Ms. Nan McRaven, Mr. Rafael Quintanilla and Mr. Jeffrey Richard.

AGAINST:  None.

ABSENT: Dr. Lillian J. Davis, Dr. Barbara P. Mink, and Ms. Veronica Rivera.

 

* * * * * * * * * *

 

STATE OF TEXAS                                                              S

                                                                                                S

COUNTY OF TRAVIS                                                         S              ORDER SETTING TAX RATE

                                                                                                S

COUNTY OF WILLIAMSON                                            S

                                                                                                S

AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE                                  S

DISTRICT                                                                             S

 

 

                Article 1:  The Board of Trustees of the Austin Community College District hereby levies an ad valorem tax for the purpose of maintenance and operation of said District and the rate is set at 9 and 00/100 cents ($.0900) on each hundred dollars ($100) assessed valuation for the tax year 2007.  THIS TAX RATE WILL RAISE MORE TAXES FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS THAN LAST YEAR’S TAX RATE.  THE RATE WILL RAISE TAXES FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS ON A $100,000 HOME BY APPROXIMATELY $8.50.

 

Article 2:  The Board of Trustees of the Austin Community College District hereby levies an ad valorem tax for the purpose of debt service of said District and the rate is set at 0 and 58/100 cents ($0.0058) on each hundred dollars ($100) assessed valuation for the tax year 2007.

 

                PASSED AND APPROVED at a regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Austin Community College District, at which a quorum was found to be present, said meeting held pursuant to notice and called in accordance with the rules of operation of the Board of Trustees and the Texas Education Code, said notice having been duly posted as required by the provisions of the Texas Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551, Texas Government Code.

               

SIGNED this 10th day of September, 2007.

                                                                                                John Hernandez, Chair

Board of Trustees

                                                                                                Austin Community College District

  

                                                                                                ATTEST:

                                                                                                Dr. James McGuffee, Secretary

                                                                                                Board of Trustees

                                                                                                Austin Community College District

 

* * * * * * * * * *

 

MOTION:  Trustee Allen H. Kaplan moved that the Board of Trustees of the Austin Community College District adopt the Order Approving Tax for Residential Homesteads Including Additional Exemptions for Elderly and Disabled persons. 

Trustee James McGuffee seconded the motion.

VOTE:  The motion passed on a unanimous vote of 6-0.

FOR:  Mr. John F. Hernandez, Mr. Allen H. Kaplan, Dr. James W. McGuffee, Ms. Nan McRaven, Mr. Rafael Quintanilla and Mr. Jeffrey Richard.

AGAINST:  None.

ABSENT: Dr. Lillian J. Davis, Dr. Barbara P. Mink, and Ms. Veronica Rivera.

 

* * * * * * * * * *

 

STATE OF TEXAS                                                              S              ORDER APPROVING TAX

                                                                                                S

COUNTY OF TRAVIS                                                         S              FOR RESIDENTIAL HOMESTEADS                                                                                                              

                                                                                                S             

COUNTY OF WILLIAMSON                                            S              INCLUDING ADDITIONAL

                                                                                                S             

AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE                                  S              EXEMPTIONS FOR ELDERLY

S             

DISTRICT                                                                             S              AND DISABLED

 

 

 

                Article 1:  Pursuant to Article VIII, Section 1-b of the Texas Constitution and Section 11.13 of the Texas Property Tax Code, as amended, an individual is entitled to exemption from ad valorem taxation by the Austin Community College District of one percent (1%) of the appraised value of the homestead for tax year 2007.  If this percentage produces an exemption of less than $5,000 when applied to a particular residence homestead, the individual is entitled to an exemption of $5,000 of the appraised value.  A surviving spouse is entitled to the exemption for the residence homestead if (a) the deceased spouse died in a year in which the deceased spouse received the exemption; (b) the surviving spouse was 55 or older when the deceased spouse died; and (c) the property was and remains the residence homestead of the surviving spouse.

               

Article 2:  Pursuant to Article VIII, Section 1-b of the Texas Constitution and Section 11.13 of the Texas Property Tax Code, if an individual who qualifies for an exemption under Article 1 is disabled or is sixty-five (65) years of age or older, he/she is entitled to exemption from ad valorem taxation by the Austin Community College District of an additional $85,000 of the appraised value of the residence homestead of the individual for tax year 2007.

               

“Disabled” means under a disability for purposes of payment of disability insurance under Federal Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance or its successor.

 

                An eligible disabled person who is sixty-five (65) years of age or older may not receive both the disabled and elderly exemption, but may choose either.  If two or more individuals who are eligible for an exemption under this Article own the same residence homestead, the exemptions for each may not be combined and only one (1) owner may receive the exemption.  Eligibility for this exemption is determined by an individual’s and his or her residence’s qualifications on January 1, 2007.  An individual or a residence does not qualify under this Article on January 2, 2007 and may not receive exemption for tax year 2007.

               

Article 3:  Applications for exemption shall be made pursuant to Section 11.43 of the Texas Property Tax Code, and for Travis County residents pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Travis Central Appraisal District and the Travis County Tax Assessor-Collector, and for Williamson County residents pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Williamson County Appraisal District and the Williamson County Tax Assessor-Collector.

               

Article 4:  Exemptions recognized and established herein shall be effective until altered or appealed by the Board of Trustees of the Austin Community College District.

               

PASSED AND APPROVED at a regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Austin Community College District, at which a quorum was found to be present, said meeting held pursuant to notice and called in accordance with the rules of operation of the Board of the Trustees and the Texas Education Code, said notice having been duly posted as required by the provisions of the Texas Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551, Texas Government Code.

               

SIGNED this 10th day of September, 2007.

                                                John Hernandez, Chair

Board of Trustees

                                                Austin Community College District

 

                                                ATTEST:

                                                Dr. James McGuffee, Secretary

                                                Board of Trustees

                                                Austin Community College District

 

* * * * * * * * * *

 

MOTION:  Trustee Nan McRaven moved that the Board of Trustees of the Austin Community College District Adopt the Order Approving Partial Taxes for Certain Landmark Properties.  Trustee Rafael Quintanilla seconded the motion.

VOTE:  The motion passed on a unanimous vote of 6-0.

FOR:  Mr. John F. Hernandez, Mr. Allen H. Kaplan, Dr. James W. McGuffee, Ms. Nan McRaven, Mr. Rafael Quintanilla and Mr. Jeffrey Richard.

AGAINST:  None.

ABSENT: Dr. Lillian J. Davis, Dr. Barbara P. Mink, and Ms. Veronica Rivera.

 

**********

 

STATE OF TEXAS                                                              S              ORDER APPROVING PARTIAL

                                                                                                S

COUNTY OF TRAVIS                                                         S              TAXES FOR CERTAIN

                                                                                                S

COUNTY OF WILLIAMSON                                            S              LANDMARK PROPERTIES

S             

AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE                                  S

DISTRICT                                                                             S             

 

  

                Article 1:  Certain historical landmark properties located within the Austin Community College District have been recommended by the Historical Landmark Commission of the City of Austin for historic landmark tax exemptions for the tax year 2007.  A list of the properties so recommended is attached as Exhibit “A”.  The Board of Trustees believes that it is in the best interest of the Austin Community College District to approve said recommendation.

 

                Article 2:  The parcels listed are hereby granted partial tax exemptions based upon the historical landmark status of the parcels with the percentage of the exemptions for both the structures and land of each parcel being listed.  Said historical tax exemptions shall be effective only for the tax year 2007.

 

                PASSED AND APPROVED at a regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Austin Community College District, at which a quorum was found to be present, said meeting held pursuant to notice and called in accordance with the rules of operation of the Board of Trustees and the Texas Education Code, said notice having been duly posted as required by the provisions of the Texas Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551, Texas Government Code.

               

 

SIGNED this 10th day of September, 2007.

 

                                                                John Hernandez, Chair

Board of Trustees

                                                Austin Community College District

 

                                                ATTEST:

                                                Dr. James McGuffee, Secretary

                                                Board of Trustees

                                                Austin Community College District

 

* * * * * * * * * * *

Executive Session

There was no Executive Session.

 

Adjournment

Having no motion before the Board, the September 10, 2006, Special Meeting of the Austin Community College Board of Trustees was adjourned at 12:15 p.m.

 

Approved By

James W. McGuffee, Secretary