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Lone Star College System Board sets tax rate for 2020
HOUSTON, TX – The Lone Star College (LSC) System Board of Trustees voted to hold the LSC tax rate at 10.78 cents per $100 property valuation for the 2020 tax year.
“This is the fifth year in a row Lone Star College has kept the tax rate unchanged,” said Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., LSC Chancellor. “We know many families are facing economic burdens during the COVID-19 pandemic and are pleased to be in the position of keeping the tax rate flat.”
LSC had the tenth lowest tax rate of the 50 community colleges in Texas for fiscal year 2020.
The LSC System board voted to approve the tax rate during its regular meeting October 8 following a public hearing that was held at LSC-North Harris October 1.
An LSC homeowner with a house valued at $100,000 would pay $108 annually in taxes based on the 2020 tax rate (not including potential additional exemptions which could lower the taxes further).
Homeowners are eligible for a Homestead Exemption of $5,000 or 1% of the value of the home (whichever is greater). Taxes are also frozen for disabled residents and those over 65 years of age residing in the LSC service area as part of the college’s $75,000 property tax exemption and tax freeze, where the actual dollar amount owed is frozen as of the date the taxpayer qualifies for the exemption – even if the property value increases.
“Lone Star College will continue to practice sound financial practices that are accountable to our community and fairly allocate budget and resources,” said Head.
Property taxes make up 46% of the funding sources for the 2020-21 LSC budget. Student tuition and fees account for 30%, the state of Texas funds 20%, and 4% comes from other sources.
Harris County accounts for approximately 73% of the LSC tax base while Montgomery and San Jacinto Counties make up approximately 27%.
“The average taxable value of residence homestead in the LSC district is projected to increase 6% from last year,” said Jennifer Mott, LSC Chief Financial Officer. “In spite of the pandemic, our service area continues to be healthy due to the increase in the number of new properties added to the tax rolls.”
Lone Star College offers high-quality, low-cost academic transfer and career training education to 93,000+ students each semester. LSC is training tomorrow’s workforce today and redefining the community college experience to support student success. Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., serves as chancellor of LSC, the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area with an annual economic impact of nearly $3 billion. LSC consists of seven colleges, 10 centers, two university centers, Lone Star Corporate College and LSC-Online. To learn more, visit LoneStar.edu.
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