Robstown petition calls for expansion of Del Mar College tax district

A grassroots effort is underway to add Robstown ISD to the Del Mar College tax district.

If successful, the expansion of the tax district would increase services and lower costs for Robstown residents studying at the college, while taxes would increase for residents of the school district.

Tuition costs for students who live outside the Del Mar College district are, on average, 30% higher than costs for students in the district, according to the college website.

The effort was launched not by Del Mar College or Robstown ISD, but by community members.

In April, political action committee Robstown for Del Mar College submitted a petition signed by more than 480 Robstown residents requesting the college hold an election to determine whether the Robstown ISD area should be annexed into the Del Mar College district.

"Robstown for Del Mar College believes that when the youth of the RISD are provided affordable higher education and affordable vocational training, more residents will attend DMC," committee treasurer David Petrick said in an email. "With this higher attendance Robstown can then offer more skills to employers and employers will locate in Robstown providing more jobs for the area."

Petrick has spearheaded the effort, which he describes as "grassroots." He said he is concerned about Robstown's population, which has decreased over the past 10 years.

"The median income in Robstown is lower than the median income in Corpus Christi," he said. "It doesn't seem fair that people in Robstown pay more to go to Del Mar College when they're from a lower-income area."

Thursday morning, the Del Mar College board of regents heard a proposed service plan for the area.

"Staff has been very careful about not encroaching into the area of advocacy," Del Mar College general counsel Augustin Rivera said. "We're not here pro or against. We're here to provide information as required by statute. Ultimately, the question of whether or not this is going to pass will be left up to the voters of the area."

If voters approve the measure, the college would expand services in Robstown, including employee training in support of local business and literacy and adult basic education, as well as student support services such as advising, admissions, academic counseling, career counseling, financial aid and student life activities.

Del Mar College students who are residents of the Robstown school district would see lower tuition and fees amounting to $600 less a semester for a full-time student taking 12 credit hours.

In 2021, the combined maintenance and operation and debt service tax rate was 28 cents for every $100 of assessed property value.

If the college were to keep the same rate, that would amount to a tax impact of $167 annually for a $59,038 property, the average taxable home value in Robstown ISD.

The college would gain additional revenues of $1,694,803.

The college has scheduled a public hearing for 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 29, at Ortiz Intermediate School in Robstown. The board also expects an update ahead of the public hearing during a June 14 board meeting.

The board will vote in August to order an election to be held in November.

During the regents' meeting, Del Mar College Chief Operating Officer Lenora Keas said that in discussions with Robstown ISD Superintendent Jose Moreno, her impression was that the introduction of more adult courses in the area would be "well received."

Moreno said the school district is not directly involved with the effort, but added that he believes lowering costs for Robstown residents interested in pursuing education would be positive for the community.

"Do I see it as beneficial? Absolutely," Moreno said.

Olivia Garrett reports on education and community news in South Texas. Contact her at olivia.garrett@caller.com. You can support local journalism with a subscription to the Caller-Times. 

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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Robstown petition calls for expansion of Del Mar College tax district