FORT WORTH -- Tarrant County College enrollment is expected to double in just eight years -- a staggering prediction that has college leaders talking about putting off some ambitious projects but still being forced to raise tuition and the tax rate as part of next year's budget.
Trustees were told during a 2012-13 budget workshop this week that enrollment is expected to hit 115,222 by 2020, up from the current 50,062, straining the district's ability to serve its students when state higher education dollars are dwindling.While the preliminary net taxable value for the college district is $127. 8 billion, a 2.6 percent increase from last year, the college may have to raise property taxes for the second year in a row as well as boost the tuition by as much as $2 a credit hour."There is no way that we are going to be able to move forward without more money," Chancellor Erma Johnson Hadley told trustees. Last year, trustees adopted a total budget estimated at $348.9 million.Trustees must also decide whether to approve a 5 percent raise for faculty and staff in the upcoming budget. The faculty presented the salary recommendation to administrators.During the workshop, trustees tossed around the idea of raising the tax rate by a penny. Last year, they raised the effective tax rate from 13.764 cents per $100 of assessed property value to 14.897 cents.Trustee O.K. Carter suggested that the board must be willing to consider tuition increases in the upcoming budget not only to pay for next year's expenses but also to prepare for the growth."Everything is on the table," Carter said. "Everything is up for discussion."Trustee Conrad Heede said the community should be aware of the growth and needs the college district is facing."It's daunting," he said.Raising tuitionLast year, the college raised tuition to $52 per semester hour from $50, the first increase since 2007, boosting TCC's tuition higher than that of neighboring community colleges.In the Dallas County Community College District, in-county tuition is $45 per credit hour, according to the 2012-13 catalog. At Collin College, which serves students in Collin County, tuition per credit hour is listed at $27 for spring 2012.Many needs driving the upcoming budget are aimed at developmental learning, programs for students who can't start college-level classes because they haven't mastered required math or reading skills.Two capital improvement plans appear to be moving forward: an indoor firing range at the Northwest Campus and a proposed 67,200-square-foot energy technology center at the South Campus. In January, trustees approved a $2.8 million contract for architecture and engineering design for the technology center.Trustees have not received a total estimated cost for the center.But trustees may have to postpone two high-profile projects.A proposed aviation learning center, which would train aircraft mechanics, pilots and aerospace engineers, is one.TCC owns 25 acres set aside for the project in 2008. Trustees have been discussing four options that differ in estimated cost and scope.The cheapest is a $44.4 million renovation of a building on Horizon Drive vacated by Bell Helicopter. The most comprehensive option is a $93.6 million, 304,800-square-foot facility built on the college-owned property.Trustees also don't have an estimated cost for a proposed performing arts center. In May, they approved spending up to $175,000 for planning and cost analysis.Urgency modelingHadley said those projects may be mapped out more efficiently by using an urgency model that is being proposed in an academic/facilities master plan in development.Under the urgency model presented by consultants, projects are ranked using factors including economic impact, student success, return on investment and other benefits.Bill Greenhill, president of the board of trustees, said the two projects are like elephants in the room because they have been under discussion for a long time. He said trustees need to decide whether to do them and give stakeholders a definitive answer."It's not going to be in the budget this year," Greenhill said during the workshop."Hard decisions are ahead," Hadley said. "On the bright side, look at all the added people we are serving."Staff writer Darren Barbee contributed to this report.Diane Smith, 817-390-7675Twitter: @dianestar