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Submitted Article NO DEBATE: HOUSTON HOMEOWNERS GET A (TAX) BREAK FROM HCC BY JIM MURPHY TRUSTEE, HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM A modest amount of controversy and debate erupted on October 28 after the Houston City Council either voted to reduce the property tax rate or increase property taxes themselves - depending on your perspective. Who did what is still a matter of interpretation. Yet a day later, without the same fanfare, the Houston Community College (HCC) trustees voted unanimously to double our homestead exemption from the current 10 percent rate to 20 percent. The net result is a tax cut - an honest to goodness tax cut, no matter how you slice it.
Second, we then in May, 2004 increased the homestead exemption from the state minimum of $5,000 to 10 percent of the home's appraised value. Finally, following a small cut in our overall tax rate this year, we took the most recent step of expanding our homestead exemption to the highest level allowed by law. Critics might reasonably ask if this latest step was really needed. After all, HCC's tax rate of 10 cents is already one of the lowest in the state and represents only three percent of the typical property tax bill. Yet, the HCC Board is well aware of the growing tax burden on property owners and wanted to do our part to provide even a modicum of relief while continuing to meet the educational needs of a growing, diverse community. Already, over the past few years, HCC has managed to fund the college's growth - and maintain its commitment to educational excellence - despite decreasing State support, which has dropped from 43 percent of the total budget in 1996 to 31 percent this year. Our taxpayers and students have each had to shoulder more of the financial burden as a result, but our Board has worked diligently to ensure that a higher corresponding value has been realized. For example, HCC recently (in September) received the coveted Star award from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) for the highest increase statewide in degrees and certificates awarded. Moreover, THECB earlier this year reviewed HCC's programs and found that HCC has 25 exemplary academic and workforce programs (four times the average). Together with our growing enrollment, all are clear signs of the product quality being quietly produced at 22 permanent and numerous area high schools and worksites campuses across our community. As the saying goes, the only way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time; and at HCC we are continuing to nibble away at higher taxes as we seek to provide high quality, convenient, and affordable higher education to our community. My fellow trustees and I well understand the need for an educated population and a technologically sophisticated workforce in today's world; and I believe our administrators - as they have in the past - will rise to this new challenge. However, as citizens and homeowners, we also understand the growing tax burden we all share. I am proud to say that this Board's actions show that each of these needs can be met - not necessarily easily - and that makes the future better for all of us. Jim Murphy is a HCC Trustee and serves as Chairman of its Finance Committee. |
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