Summer 2016 Newsletter from Trustee Zeph Capo
Jul 13, 2016
Dear Neighbors,
As your representative for Houston Community College District 1, my position is to serve and protect the constituents who consistently put faith in the vision and mission of our institution, which is to be a leader in providing high quality, innovative education leading to student success.
I join my fellow board members in their commitment to being responsive to our community needs. That includes being good stewards of taxpayer money. Our recent budgeting report revealed that HCC has made significant improvements and efficiencies, that have not only benefitted taxpayers; but have also made it much easier for students to get an education at HCC.
- HCC has enacted no general tuition or fee increase since 2011.
- The HCC property tax rate is lower than the tax rate for 46 of the 50 community colleges in Texas.
- HCC has steadily grown its unrestricted fund balance, available for emergencies, since 2011.
- A compensation study, to ensure market level pay for employees, was finalized in 2015 and a three-year plan of raises began in 2016.
- In addition to its regularly scheduled payments, HCC aggressively paid off $12 million of debt over the past 12 months.
- Under my tenure as Board Chair, we drastically reduced the tax burden on senior citizens and disabled homeowners in the HCC taxing district. This break affects nearly 45,000 homeowners who will be completely exempt from payment of taxes to HCC.
Our transformation from six diverse colleges to 13 instructional Centers of Excellence is getting noticed on a global scale. The League for Innovation in the Community College honored HCC as a winner of its 2016 Innovation of the Year award. This award recognizes innovative programs, policies, and partnerships that improve the ability of institutions to serve the students and the community, which has always been our greatest goal.
We are pushing ahead with the grand openings of our Centers of Excellence. The Material Science Center of Excellence grand opening is set for August 31 at the Eastside Campus.
Fall registration is underway and classes begin on August 22. Individuals who make the decision to enroll are not only changing their lives, but are also preparing to transform our city through the skills they learn at Houston Community College.
HCC is doing many things right and it is my honor to report on the good work that is being done with your support.
We are Houston’s Community College.
In service,
Zeph Capo
HCC Board of Trustees
District I
Download: Summer 2016 Trustee Newsletter - Zeph Capo