Central Texas News

Voters in the Austin Community College District (ACC) appear to have approved the college’s $770 million bond proposition according to election results posted at 10 p.m. Tuesday evening. The bond funds projects in all regions of the District that can increase training capacity for high-demand fields such as health care and advanced manufacturing, create new campus sites in southeast and southwest Travis County, and create spaces for the college to expand campus services for students.

Results as of 10 p.m. Tuesday, November 8, 2022, are:

Bond Proposition |289,742 (70%) FOR                              122,050 (30%) AGAINST

“The voters of Central Texas have overwhelmingly decided to invest in the future of their community,” says Dr. Nan McRaven, ACC Board of Trustees Chair. “We have delivered in the past, and we will deliver now! With the passage of the bonds, we can do even more to strengthen the workforce and support students along their educational journey. We’ll have the funds we need to build two new campuses and expand our existing campus with programs like Advanced Manufacturing and allied health care. Too, we will designate spaces for critical resources for our students so they can stay on track. I’m proud of this college and thankful to the voters for their support and trust in ACC.”

“I couldn’t be more excited about the opportunities that are ahead for Central Texas, thanks to our voters’ support. I want to thank each and every person who cast a ballot and put their trust in ACC,” says ACC Chancellor, Dr. Richard Rhodes.  “We created this bond with every region in mind. Now, we’ll be able to build the spaces students need to thrive and meet the needs of our community’s growing workforce. ”

In the coming weeks and months, ACC will formulate more concrete plans for construction and programming associated with the bonds. The college will develop a website to provide updates on the progress of these projects.

Overview of bond projects

• South Region | Southeast Travis County new workforce campus for Advanced Manufacturing and Skilled Trades, Hays Campus expansion to support programs for Nursing and other Health Care professions, a new general education campus at Pinnacle with Computer Science, Business, and Health Care professions, Riverside Campus expansion of Student Services, including space for childcare, student health services, and modernization of campus technology, and South Austin Campus expansion of Student Services, including space for childcare, student health services, and modernization of campus technology.
• Central Region | Rio Grande Campus expansion to support the addition of Cyber Security and other IT/Computer Sciences programs, Highland Campus expansion for Advanced Manufacturing and facilities that support the implementation of Entrepreneurship Institute and Cyber Security, Eastview Campus expansion for Health Sciences and Student Services, including space for childcare, student health services, and modernization of campus technology, and Elgin Campus expansion to support a new Skilled Trades building for Welding and Advanced Manufacturing.
• North Region | Round Rock Campus expansion for Skilled Trades, Advanced Manufacturing, and Health Sciences programs, Cypress Creek Campus expansion for IT/Computer Science programs, Northridge Campus expansion for Business, Continuing Education, and enhanced Student Services, including space for childcare, student health services, and modernization of campus technology, and San Gabriel Campus expansion to support Skilled Trades and Advanced Manufacturing programs.

The ballot also included three ACC Board of Trustees seats. Incumbent Trustees Sean Hassan and Dr. Manuel (Manny) Gonzalez — who both ran unopposed — have been re-elected to their seats in Places 4 and 5, respectively. Two candidates, Nathaniel Hellman and Steve Jackobs, were on the ballot for Place 6. Jackobs is the projected winner. 

Below are the results as of 10 p.m. on Tuesday, November 8:

Place 4 Sean Hassan — Ran Unopposed 

Place 5 Dr. Manuel Gonzalez — Ran Unopposed  

Place 6 Nathaniel Hellman — 108,586 (42%)Steve Jackobs  — 148,384 (58%)

ACC board members serve staggered six-year terms and are elected at large by registered voters who live within the ACC District, which includes the City of Austin as well as the Austin, Leander, Manor, Del Valle, Round Rock, Elgin, and Hays school districts. 

ACC’s taxing district includes voters in Bastrop, Caldwell, Lee, Hays, Travis, and Williamson Counties. Voters join the ACC District through annexation and pay property taxes in exchange for increased services, reduced tuition, and the right to vote in district elections. 

Comprehensive election results are available on the ACC Elections website.

Original source can be found here.