Board could decide fate of COM’s north campus

TEXAS CITY — Months of debate about the fate of College of the Mainland’s North County Learning Center campus is expected to culminate Monday when board members meet in a workshop before deciding on the future of the campus building’s lease.

Interim college President Larry Durrence said trustees will hold a workshop that morning and are scheduled to vote on the fate of the lease of the building on FM 517 near Interstate 45 during the board’s regular meeting in the afternoon.

There’s been much debate about the future of the League City campus, located within the community’s college’s mandated service area but not its taxing jurisdiction.

COM’s taxing district includes the boundaries of the Texas City, La Marque, Hitchcock, Santa Fe and Dickinson school districts. Its service district expands to those parts of the Clear Creek school district south of Clear Creek.

State law forbids property tax dollars from being spent to operate the campus. So, student fees, tuition and state reimbursements for courses and dual credit high school/college courses pay for its operations.

But just barely.

After expenses, there is only $722 left in revenue generated from the campus, COM figures show. It costs the college about $534,000 a year to operate the campus, including about $170,000 a year to lease the two building used for the campus.

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At A Glance

WHAT: College of the Mainland trustees meetings

WHEN: 10:15 a.m. Monday for workshop; 12:30 p.m. regular session

WHERE: College of the Mainland Administration Building, 1200 Amburn Road, in Texas City