Texas Border Business
BROWNSVILLE, TX – The Texas Southmost College Board of Trustees unanimously voted to lower the tax rate by 4.7% for property owners in the TSC taxing district during their regular meeting on Aug. 26.
“The TSC Board is committed to being responsible financial stewards of taxpayers’ dollars,” said TSC Board Chair Ruben Herrera. “We have lowered tuition by 40% since 2013, making college more affordable for families; we are the only institution of higher education in the Rio Grande Valley that did not lay off or furlough a single employee during the pandemic; and we are now able to also lower the tax rate, providing savings for our taxpayers.”
The new tax rate for 2021 is set at $0.154636 per $100,000 of valuation for property owners in the Texas Southmost College District. For example, the rate lowers property taxes for owners of a $100,000 home from $162.41 to $154.64 per year.
“We work very hard to ensure TSC provides a good return on investment for the communities we serve,” said TSC President Jesús Roberto Rodríguez, Ph.D. “Over the past several years the TSC Board has lowered tuition, making Texas Southmost College the most affordable institution of higher education in the Rio Grande Valley. At the same time, we have fostered a culture of innovation to provide students, faculty, staff, and administration with resources they need to enhance teaching and learning while increasing efficiencies. Now the board members have voted to lower the tax rate—all while producing a balanced budget.”
Rodríguez noted the board’s most recent action ushers in the yearlong celebration of TSC’s 95th anniversary. Texas Southmost College is the oldest institution of higher education in the Rio Grande Valley and was the first accredited community college in Texas. Rodríguez said the college’s fiscal health, enrollment growth, and increased rates of student success are the results of the Scorpion family’s dedication to the communities they have served for 95 years.
