Blinn College trustees adopt a property tax rate that results again in paying a penalty to the state

This podcast contains comments from the August 19, 2025 Blinn College trustees meeting.Blinn College trustees again set a property tax rate that requires paying a penalty to the state because the rate is under the minimum of five cents.The rate of 4.38 cents was approved at a special meeting Tuesday (August 26) by a five to one vote.Voting no was Richard O'Malley. Not present for the vote was Dennis Crowson.During the trustees regular meeting on August 19, vice chancellor Clem Burton said Blinn paid an $870,000 dollar penalty in fiscal year 2024 and a $560,000 dollar penalty in FY 2025. Executive vice chancellor Leighton Schubert said the expected penalty for FY 2026 would be $570,000.Burton also told trustees the tax rate for FY 26 also reflected a state mandated tuition freeze and the legislature looking at reducing the amount of state funding of community colleges.Blinn's tax rate, which applies only to property owners in Washington County, is the lowest among the state's 50 community colleges.Click HERE to read and download presentation materials from the August 26, 2025 Blinn College trustees special meeting.