A Study of Texas Community College Property Tax Funding and Selected Student Performance Measures

The purpose of this sequential mixed methods study was to examine the relationship between Texas community college property tax revenue and student transfer, licensure, and completion. This study reviewed data from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Texas Association of Community Colleges for a purposeful sample of the 50 community college districts in Texas in order to determine funding impact. A purposive sample of 16 community college chancellors and presidents was used for the semi-structured interviews which allowed for a deeper understanding of the relationship between property tax funding and transfer, licensure, and completion. Findings of the study concluded that there was a relationship between Texas community college property tax revenue and transfer, licensure and completion. For both rural and non-rural community colleges in Texas, there was a relationship between property tax revenue and transfer, licensure, and completion. For border and non-border community colleges, there was a relationship between property tax revenue and transfer, licensure, and completion. Regarding the 10 education regions in Texas, there was a relationship between property tax revenue and transfer in Regions 3, 6, and 8. There was also a relationship between property tax revenue and licensure in Regions 3, 6, 7, and 8. Findings of the study showed there was a relationship between property tax revenue and completion in Regions 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8. Lastly, findings from the semi-structured interviews revealed that 65% of the community college chancellors and presidents felt there was a relationship between property tax revenue and transfer, 50% felt there was a relationship between property tax revenue and licensure, and 94% felt there was a relationship between property tax revenue and student completion.