Editor:

I have read with great interest the letters to the editor with many views of Bastrop residents concerning a college in Bastrop but I do not think citizens should make decisions concerning a community college from letters to the editor. We need to hear from Austin Community College District.
The information in the newspaper is often written by folks who have agendas for or against and frankly I would like to hear from the taxing district the facts that we will need so that we can make informed decisions before voting on a community college.
I have five grandchildren that will be going to college and live in Bastrop and I do want them to have the availability of a college near our community but I do not believe the decisions made by Tom Scott have been disclosed properly so that we can be sure that the Austin Community Tax district is in the best interest of the residents of Bastrop. Mr. Scott’s ethics seem questionable to me and should gives me pause before I will decide either way on this issue.
In my opinion, after the local school board gets control of the quality of our education in Bastrop and prepares our students so that they can succeed in a college setting, then I believe the citizens of Bastrop should investigate all the options that are available to our community in forming a community college. A forum with all the citizens in our community should be held to investigate all of the options.
Judge Ronnie McDonald and the county court should appoint a committee to organize a vetting of all the issues. I wonder why this expensive decision is being brought to a vote without any input or investigation into all of our options available to the community. Who decided Austin Community College is the most cost effective option? Has anyone investigated having our own taxing district for a Bastrop Community College? Has anyone made an honest evaluation of the costs and all the ramifications to our community forming our own Bastrop tax district for a college? Can someone explain why we need to join Austin Community College? It seems to me that Bastrop and surrounding communities should have their own college system where the folks that are paying for the college can have some control on how our tax money would be spent. We will be the stepchild of Austin Community College because of our location and we will have no control over the tax money they will take out of our community. Is there another college district we could join?
I would like to know who is representing our community in negotiating with ACC? Who appointed Mr. Scott our representative? If the voters approve the Austin Taxing District will we be able to sever that connection in the future and take control of the college? Who is protecting our community? Is a former lobbyist driving this decision with a personal agenda?
Is the campus designed for expansion with adequate land to serve the campus for decades? Land should have been purchased years ago. Has this happened? If so where is the campus going to be located? Will the Austin district purchase a large parcel of land so that the college can be expanded? Are there detailed plans for future growth and costs?
Will there be enough students to pay for this college? Bastrop County will be able to support a community college in the future if the growth continues. Has anyone had any accountants project future costs for this campus? How much can the district raise the tax rate per year? Are tax increases regulated? Has Mr. Scott protected us from unfair tax increases from Austin?
Why has Austin Community College been silent? I have received no information from them. Has the ACC board agreed to build a campus or is Mr. Scott just hoping to get them to do it? You would think ACC would be sending information to all the voters in our community explaining their position on this tax district if they want to build a campus. We need information from the college district rather than from letters to the editor.
Exactly who is in the college taxing district? I have not received a map detailing any of the college boundaries. Is Elgin and Smithville participating? If not, why not? Is all of Bastrop County included? Will all of the county vote on the district or does the total bill fall on the residents of the city of Bastrop? I have not received any official information concerning this district. I understand some folks received petition information. Why didn’t the whole community receive any information?
It seems to me a small group of folks decided we need a college and then decided to bulldoze their wishes on a community. We need more information from Austin Community College before we should ever enter a voting booth to vote either way for this project. If Austin Community College wants this campus then we need to hear from Austin Community College Board. They need to explain their plan.

Carolyn Smith
Bastrop