Public hearing too important to miss

On July 21, an important public hearing will take place at Atlanta Middle School at 6 p.m.
The subject of the meeting is to give county residents personal insight into the proposal to make Cass County part of Texarkana College’s service district. More importantly, residents will be able to ask Texarkana College officials questions.
The Texarkana College Board of Trustees recently approved a service plan to expand services and benefits to TC’s service area in Cass County pending voter approval in the Nov. 8 General Election. 
Of course, passing the proposed plan would mean a tax increase for property owners, estimated at between $60 and $80 per year. The upside is if the proposed plan is passed,  students in Atlanta, Bloomburg, Linden-Kildare, McLeod and Queen City would receive in-district tuition -- an estimated savings of $795 per student per semester, and Cass County would get a new workforce training center.
“There is an identified need for a customized workforce training site in Cass County that offers certification programs that take two years or less to complete,” Texarkana College President James Henry Russell said at the most recent board of trustees meeting. “The entire service area would benefit from training that helps residents secure higher paying jobs that boost the economy.”
We believe the proposal to expand Texarkana College’s service plan here offers positive opportunities for Cass County’s future growth. 
We encourage you to attend the public hearing on July 21, so that you can make well-informed decision come this fall at the polls.