Bowie County, Texas voters approve a property tax hike that Texarkana College officials say will help keep the college open.

The vote was more than 14,345 for and more than 11,082 against.

The tax expansion in Bowie County will now bring in an extra 3.5 million dollars.

College officials believe the sacrifice from taxpayers will not only help students but the entire community.

TC President James Henry Russell says the voters decision to support the college was an extremely important one.

He says the college had about a 6 square mile tax district, now they have a thousand square miles.

"One of the first things the board will do be to start advertising for two open seats on the board that will take place immediatley," said Russell.

The average homeowner will pay about $8 a month in additional taxes.

The tax doesn't go into effect into Fall of 2013, so we still have a long tough year to go through to make until then, explained Russell.

The college's new tax district has 13 school districts and includes the cities of Wake Village and Nash.

College officials say all 7 seats on the Texarkana College board will be up for grabs in the November 2013 election.

Russell says the college board will work hard to keep the 10.5 cent tax rate where it is now.