Blinn College trustees continue to lobby state lawmakers against a bill expected to pass out of a House committee that would restrict spending revenue to the campus where it’s generated.
The Blinn board during a special meeting Wednesday morning, decided to ask for another private meeting with representative John Raney of Bryan, hoping to modify the spending restrictions and/or delay its implementation from 2017 until 2019.
Among those going to Austin is the president of Blinn’s Brazos County campuses. Dr. Sylvia McMullen, who was not allowed to go last week when a Blinn delegation testified before the House Higher Education committee, said she opposes House Bill 1903. McMullen said the House is considering a budget rider restricting where Blinn revenue is spent because college officials did not provide background information to the newly elected lawmaker representing Brenham. And McMullen says they need to return to Austin with a plan on paper for the Brenham campus to operate on its own funding.
Someone who testified last week and will return to meet with Raney is trustee Carolyn Miller. As the chief financial officer for the city of Brenham, Miller says the trustees need time to respond to Raney’s offer to determine the percentage of administrative expenses from Brenham can be applied to operating the Bryan campus.
Another member of the trustees, Leon Toubin, is retiring after nearly 23 years on the board. He recalled being told in 1996 that the Bryan campus would become larger than Brenham and plans should be made for changes at both locations. And he called for only Miller and Dr. McMullen to meet with Raney.
Trustees president Douglas Borchardt said this is the college’s first direct involvement with the sdtate legislative process.
Trustees took one step in that direction by raising tuition rates for students living outside Blinn’s 13 county service area. Combined with rate increases passed last week for students residing inside the service area, that is projected to generate an additional $7.8 eight million dollars next year. How much would go to each campus was not announced.
For the 2015-16 school year, Blinn students from Washington County will pay $48 per credit hour. Tuition for students from Brazos and the remaining 11 counties will be $102 per credit hour. For students residing elsewhere in Texas, the rate will be $117 per credit hour. And for students outside of Texas, the rate will be $200 per credit hour.
