Tuesday was a mixed night for those wanting to expand Austin Community College‘s taxing district into suburban counties. Voters in the Hays and Elgin independent school districts voted to join ACC, while Bastrop, San Marcos, and McDade ISDs shot the proposals down. “Elgin ISD and Hays CISD are now full partners in the regional ACC District,” says Stephen B. Kinslow, ACC president/CEO, according to an ACC press release. “We welcome those residents and look forward to delivering all the benefits of annexation, including dramatically lower tuition, expanded instructional programs and support services, as well as a more educated workforce, which is an asset to the entire community.” Activists against annexation argued that ACC would spend their tax money mainly in Austin, with too little benefit to their communities.

Annexation Vote by School District

For Against % For
Elgin 2,494 1,567 61.4%
Hays 6,931 4,924 58.5%
San Marcos 5,109 6,132 45.4%
Bastrop 4,750 5,847 44.8%
McDade 147 343 30.0%

This article appears in November 5 • 2010.

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