Business, Labor, Neighborhood,
& Education Groups Say

Vote Yes for ACC

April 23, 2003—Six organizations and former Austin Mayor Bruce Todd Wednesday urged voters to Vote Yes on both proposals that will help Austin Community College meet the demand for education and workforce training.

The Greater Austin Chamber, the Capital City African-American Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Central Labor Council, the Austin Neighborhoods Council, and the Austin City Council of Parent Teachers Associations agreed with former Mayor Todd that ACC’s ability to meet the needs of the Central Texas workforce is essential to a healthy economy.

“An educated, highly skilled workforce is the Number One reason businesses give for locating in the Greater Austin area,” said Susan Dawson, former Chair of the Greater Austin Chamber and President of the Athens Group. “ACC graduates are critical to meet the needs of our employers, but now ACC is forced to turn away as many as 4,000 students a year.”

The ACC measure on the May 3 election ballot has two provisions. One would increase ACC's existing tax cap from 5 cents to 9 cents per $100 valuation, phasing the increase over three years. This additional revenue would expand the health sciences programs—which are currently at full capacity and must turn students away each semester--- and add 200 more course sections in 2004, 400 more course sections in 2005 and 650 more course sections in 2006. The additional revenue would also enable new programs in nanotechnology and dental hygiene, in accordance with ACC’s master plan.

Proposition 2 would authorizeThe ACC administration $99.15 million in bonds for facility improvements including added classroom space and more science labs. This would be funded by a 1 cent increase per $100 valuation.

“Business and labor don’t often agree, but we agree that ACC is an enormous value to the community, “ said Louis Malfaro, President of Education Austin. “Each year, ACC provides an economic benefit of $626 million to the Central Texas economy. It returns $1.53 for every tax dollar we invest. That’s a 65 percent rate of return—better than most investments are paying these days.” Malfaro spoke for the Austin Area Central Labor Council.

Anthony Brown of the Capital City African-American Chamber of Commerce, said his organization supports ACC because it makes higher education accessible to many Greater Austin residents.

“Classes are offered at night and weekends and in convenient time blocks,” Brown said. “And ACC is the Number One transfer feeder of students to UT-Austin and Southwest Texas State University. Many of these are students who would not have been able to enroll in those universities at the freshman level.”

The Austin Neighborhoods Council also endorsed the ACC proposals. “ACC’s tax rate is the lowest of any community college district in the state,” said ANC Chair Bryan King. “They haven’t had a tax increase in 17 years, and, as a result, our tuition is among the highest in the state.”

John Michael Cortez, the Education Chair of the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, pointed out that ACC provides the only route for many students in earning a college degree, whether they enroll in a college credit course and transfer to a four-year institution or earn a two-year degree and find a good-paying job.

“ACC also opens doors by giving GED courses and English as a Second Language courses to help people get the credentials they need to enter the workforce,” Cortez said. “And ACC is the best place to learn new skills and retool if you’ve been laid off and need a new career.”

Former Mayor Bruce Todd noted that ACC is vital to Central Texas’ future, which will be bleak if the rate of college-going students doesn’t increase over the next 12 years. The State Data Center predicts a growing pool of unskilled, under-educated workers and a decline in average household income by as much as $4,000 if Texas cannot increase the number of students who enter higher education.

“ACC will need more capacity to do that. They’re stressed and strained and cash-strapped and the budget cuts this session will only make that worse,” Todd said.

The Austin Council of Parent Teacher Associations endorsed the ballot proposals because of the opportunities ACC provides to Central Texas children.

“We also value and support the tuition-free dual credit courses ACC now offers to high school juniors and seniors,” said ACPTA Member Victor Rodriguez. “That’s an opportunity for young people to accelerate their learning.”

Early voting is now underway through April 26. The organizations are urging their members to take advantage of early voting opportunities or to go to the polls May 3.