The Odessa College Board of Trustees will have tax rate hearings at 6 p.m. Sept. 9 and noon Sept. 16, both in room 128 of the Saulsbury Campus Center.
The hearings were announced during the board of trustees meeting Tuesday.
The total proposed tax rate does not include a proposed bond issue, Chief Financial Officer Brandy Ham said.
If approved, the total rate will be $.176887 per $100 valuation, a 3 percent increase over last year, Ham said.
That would be a $1.04 monthly increase and a yearly increase $12.43, based on the certified taxable home value of $167,140.
Vice President of Academic Partnerships Jason Meldrum reviewed OC’s enrollment and showed nearly 10,000 students are on board as of Aug. 26. Reaching 10,000 students has been a goal for the college for the last few years.
Meldrum said there are a total of 9,293 students, with 4,890 of those being dual credit.
Also, 1,605 students are first time in college; 2,099 are continuing students, 670 are returning after leaving for a while; and 29 are transferring in.
At the end of 2023, there were 8,800 students, including 4,299 dual credit students; 1,499 first time in college students; 2,141 continuing students; 777 returning after leaving; and 86 transfers.
Meldrum said this is the 12th year of record enrollment growth. Programs such as the Wrangler Promise Program, a last-dollar-in scholarship opportunity that covers the cost of tuition and fees for eligible high school graduates.
Meldrum said college life coaches started onboarding meetings this year as a new effort to help retain students.
“We’re just going to keep growing,” Meldrum said.
The board approved a $2,142,500 bid from RS3 Turf for the baseball and softball fields. The artificial turf will have a 10-year warranty and the project is expected to be complete in 90 days.
The board approved the same investment policy and list of authorized investment business organizations with no changes from last year.
Trustees approved an action item to conform 2023-24 budget to actual expenditures at fiscal year end.
On the Vision 2030 plus report, Vice President of Advancement Alissa Cornelius said the grand opening and ribbon cutting for the Wood Heath Sciences Building will be at 10 a.m. Sept. 10.
Tours will also be offered and there will be other activities.
OC President Gregory Williams said 30 for 30 starts Sunday. Exercise for 30 minutes a day through September and you could be eligible to win prizes.
Register at wranglersports.com
