Taxes.
Wars have been fought over them, and this country even fought for its independence over what our forefathers deemed as unfair taxation.
To the property owner anywhere, another tax on his land, his home, is just another burden on his back.
But, ask a young person who graduates from high school with two, or even three years of college credit how important Texarkana College is to them, and they would ask you to please, shoulder just a little bit more weight.
Ask one of our high school counselors how much harder their job would be if they did not have Texarkana College to offer as an option?
As it stands, Texarkana College’s tax rate is not even at the minimum they are allowed. This coming tax rate does not have to be, and will not be voted on by the general public, because the college has that leeway to levy this tax without a vote.
I know many who have trumpeted a revolt, a recall, or some other action. There have been calls to put something on the November ballot. Others have offered a myriad of suggestions as a form of protest.
But again, we need to look at all that Texarkana College brings to our area, and how we would suffer without its existence.
The folks at Texarkana College are only implementing this tax increase because the State of Texas has decreased its funding for community colleges so drastically. In fact, according to information given at the college’s public hearing on Monday, where once the state contributed to 66% of its annual revenue needs, that number is now down to 23%.
The funding to keep the doors open has to come from somewhere, and in lieu of state funding, that burden has to shift to the people that benefit the most from Texarkana College’s existence.
Some of that funding can come from an increase in tuition, but how much of a burden can we put on students who are just beginning their adult lives?
A friend of mine, Brett McClaran, offers his views on the subject in a Letter to the Editor on this page.
He says that Texarkana College saved he and his two kids around $50,000 because of their offering of dual credit courses in high school. Think about a family that might have three kids, or even four.
