WC board proposes tax rate

The Weatherford College Board of Trustees proposed an 11.4716 cent tax rate for the 2026-27 fiscal year at their August board meeting.  

If approved, the proposed rate would increase from the current rate of 10.6087 cents per $100 valuation and support a $117 million operating budget for the fiscal year beginning Sept. 1.  

“Due to the governor-mandated freeze on tuition and fees…administration recommends [this rate],” said Lisa Simons, WC controller.  

Even with the proposed increase, WC would continue to maintain one of the lowest tax rates among Texas community colleges. The average community college tax rate in Texas is 16.06 cents per $100 of taxable value. At 11.4716 cents, WC’s rate would remain 28.5% below the state average and rank as the 19th lowest among the state’s 50 community college districts based on current rates.  

For property owners, the proposed rate would increase taxes by $8.63 annually for every $100,000 of taxable value compared to the current rate. The college’s tax rate also accounts for less than 6% of the total property tax bill for a resident living within both the City of Weatherford and Weatherford ISD.  

The proposed rate is lower than Weatherford College’s 2018 tax rate of 11.9470 cents and below the 2026 voter-approval tax rate of 11.6229 cents.  

“The college has worked to balance the needs of students, taxpayers, and the long-term health of the institution,” said WC President Tod Allen Farmer. “Weatherford College remains among the lowest-taxed community college districts in Texas while continuing to provide affordable education, workforce training, and economic impact across our service area.”  

The Weatherford College Board of Trustees has either reduced or held the tax rate flat in six of the past seven years.  

The board will hold a public hearing on the proposed budget and tax rate at a called meeting at 12:30 p.m. Aug. 27 in the third-floor community room of the Emerging Technologies and Workforce Building. Trustees are expected to consider adoption of both the 2026-27 budget and tax rate following the hearing.  

In other business, the board:  

• Approved the minutes from the June 11 regular and called board meetings.  
• Approved the financial reports ending June 30.  
• Approved TASB policy update No. 51.  
• Approved changes to Policy DEC (Local).  
• Approved a TIPS cooperative contract quote from Shimadzu for radiation technology lab equipment for Wise County.  
• Approved the prevailing wage on construction projects for the 2026-27 fiscal year.  
• Approved the disposal of obsolete and surplus items through online auction.  
• Approved a proposal from JRJ Construction to serve as the contractor for the radiation technology labs for the Wise County campus.  
• Approved a tax resale resolution for a property with delinquent taxes.  
• Received written reports from WC Wise County, academics and a student services update.  
• Received a verbal report on WC bachelor’s programs.  

In his President’s Report, President Tod Allen Farmer:  

• Announced WC’s state certification for three workforce training programs under the new Workforce Pell Grant program and the college’s application submission to the US Department of Education for federal approval.   
• Announced approval by the Texas Education Agency for WC to offer the Texas College Preparatory English Language Arts course.  
• Announced former Coyote Ryne Rodriguez selection by the LA Dodgers in the MLB draft, making him the 51st former Coyote to be drafted by an MLB franchise.  
• Announced the retirement of Sharon Johnson, public safety programs department chair; as well as the resignations of Samantha Cowling, respiratory therapy clinical coordinator; Chris Flanagan, assistant softball coach; Dr. Bill Alexander, robotics program director; and Cheryl Stanton, speech instructor.  
• Provided an enrollment report, as Fall semester enrollment is ongoing. As of Monday, Aug. 10, 6,911 students were registered for the fall compared with 6,763 that same day last year. This represents a 2.18% increase.