Parish
Reiter Right Choice for ACC Needs
RECEIVED Fri., May 14, 2010
Dear Editor,
In the June 12 Austin Community College board of trustees run-off, both candidates are good, but I urge voters to also consider where ACC most needs guidance at this time.
David Reiter seems to me to be the stronger candidate on requiring institutional accountability and balancing financial priorities – two areas where ACC is currently weak. Reiter’s background in high tech industry would also enhance the board’s ability to deal with the shifts under way in higher education, as would his work with many Austin-region school districts. And it is refreshing to get an education-concerned businessman and active Democrat in one package.
ACC is facing a very dangerous situation next year, when the Legislature will cut billions of dollars and may drop some or all state community-college funding (currently about 25% of ACC revenue), making community colleges rely almost exclusively on local taxes and student tuition/fees. If the Legislature takes this path and ACC is unable to get local voters to replace that money with a few cents more in tax support rate, it will be forced into a damaging combination of increases in tuition, cuts in salaries, and limits on enrollment.
ACC weathered a similar legislative storm in 2003 by a broad-based effort that led to getting more local tax support, which has also enabled its dramatic subsequent enrollment growth and program enhancements. I want ACC to be well-situated to recapture that support when needed and to make the careful choices that will be required to preserve its quality while it expands the region it serves. The election of David Reiter on June 12 would make both these positive outcomes more likely.
In the June 12 Austin Community College board of trustees run-off, both candidates are good, but I urge voters to also consider where ACC most needs guidance at this time.
David Reiter seems to me to be the stronger candidate on requiring institutional accountability and balancing financial priorities – two areas where ACC is currently weak. Reiter’s background in high tech industry would also enhance the board’s ability to deal with the shifts under way in higher education, as would his work with many Austin-region school districts. And it is refreshing to get an education-concerned businessman and active Democrat in one package.
ACC is facing a very dangerous situation next year, when the Legislature will cut billions of dollars and may drop some or all state community-college funding (currently about 25% of ACC revenue), making community colleges rely almost exclusively on local taxes and student tuition/fees. If the Legislature takes this path and ACC is unable to get local voters to replace that money with a few cents more in tax support rate, it will be forced into a damaging combination of increases in tuition, cuts in salaries, and limits on enrollment.
ACC weathered a similar legislative storm in 2003 by a broad-based effort that led to getting more local tax support, which has also enabled its dramatic subsequent enrollment growth and program enhancements. I want ACC to be well-situated to recapture that support when needed and to make the careful choices that will be required to preserve its quality while it expands the region it serves. The election of David Reiter on June 12 would make both these positive outcomes more likely.
Hunter Ellinger
[Editor's note: Ellinger served as an ACC trustee from 1992 to 2000 and has since worked on increasing ACC resources and community accountability.]
