Proposition 1: $850M for TSTC campuses, no new taxes, says TSTC official

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — This November, Texas voters will decide on several propositions, including one that would provide millions of dollars for improvements at Texas State Technical College campuses.

The Harlingen campus is one of 11 across the state.

School representatives say that if voters approve Proposition 1, $850 million will be distributed among all their campuses.

The money would be used for new facilities, buildings, and updating labs with new equipment.

Joe Arnold, the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Government Relations for TSTC, stated that Proposition 1 would establish an endowment that would allow funds to be used exclusively for capital improvements. This would support the expansion of TSTC facilities and increase the number of students who can be admitted to the colleges.

Arnold noted that the funding for the proposition has already been approved by lawmakers, pending voter approval.

“There are no new taxes created with this proposition; the money is already there. It’s already been appropriated. It came out of existing funds, and there will never be another tax ask to go along with this proposition,” said Arnold.

Mike Meroney, a registered lobbyist, says he worked with other businesses to form 'Texans for TSTC', a special-purpose political action committee.

Meroney believes it is essential to invest in college systems, such as TSTC, because they train future employees with the skills necessary to succeed in the workforce.

“The skills gap is real, and we in business are desperate for the types of workers that TSTC trains and educates,” said Meroney.

He also noted that the Harlingen campus is one of the largest in the TSTC system. If the proposition passes, he said TSTC would then determine how to allocate the funds among the 11 campuses in Texas.

Voters will decide on Proposition 1 on Nov. 4.