Texas voters to decide fate of 11 propositions

Voters across Texas will head to the polls next Tuesday to decide the fate of eleven proposed constitutional amendments.

Early voting by personal appearance continues through this Friday, October 30, in the County Clerk’s office. Next Tuesday’s polling locations are as follows: Precinct 101 – Bairfield Activity Center at Clarendon College, Precinct 102 – Howardwick City Hall, Precinct 201 – County Courthouse, Precinct 301 – Assembly of God Fellowship Hall, Precinct 303 – Hedley Lions Club, and Precinct 401 – Clarendon Church of Christ Family Life Center.
Check your voter’s registration card for precinct number.

The ballot issues facing voters are as follows:
Proposition 1 (HJR 132) would amend the constitution to authorize the legislature to allow a municipality or a county to issue bonds and notes to finance the purchase of buffer areas or open spaces adjacent to military installations. The buffer areas would be used to prevent encroachment or to construct roadways utilities, or other infrastructure to protect or promote the mission of the military installation. The municipality or county may pledge increases in ad valorem tax revenues for repayment of the bonds or notes.

Proposition 2 (HJR 36 – #1) would amend the constitution to authorize the legislature to provide for the taxation of a residence homestead solely on the basis of the property’s value as a residence homestead, regardless of whether the property may have a higher value if it were used for other purposes.

Proposition 3 (HJR 36 – #3) would amend the constitution to require the legislature to provide for the administration and enforcement of uniform standards and procedures for appraisal of property for ad valorem tax purposes.

Proposition 4 (HJR 14 – #2) would amend the constitution to establish the national research university fund to provide a source of funding that will enable emerging research universities in this state to develop into major research universities. The amendment would require the legislature to dedicate state revenue to the fund and to transfer the balance of the existing higher education fund to the national research university fund. This amendment would further require the legislature to establish the criteria by which a state university may become eligible to receive and use distributions from the fund.

Proposition 5 (HJR 36 – #2) would amend the constitution to authorize the legislature to allow for a single appraisal review board for two or more adjoining appraisal entities that elect to provide for consolidated reviews of tax appraisals.

Proposition 6 (HJR 116) would amend the constitution to authorize the Veterans’ Land Board to issue general obligation bonds, subject to certain constitutional limits, for the purpose of selling land and providing home or land mortgage loans to veterans of the state.

Proposition 7 (HJR 127) would amend the constitution to allow an officer or enlisted member of the Texas State Guard or other state militia or military force to hold other civil offices.

Proposition 8 (HJR 7) would amend the constitution to authorize the state to contribute money, property, and other resources for the establishment, maintenance, and operation of veterans’ hospitals in this state.

Proposition 9 (HJR 102) would define what is a state-owned public beach. The public, individually and collectively, would have an unrestricted right to use and a right of ingress to and egress from a public beach. The amendment would authorize the legislature to enact laws to protect these rights.

Proposition 10 (HJR 85) would amend the constitution to authorize the legislature to provide that members of the governing board of an emergency services district may serve terms not to exceed four years.

Proposition 11 (HJR 14 – #1) would amend the constitution to provide that the taking of private property for public use (“eminent domain”) is authorized only if it is for the ownership, use, and enjoyment of the property by the State, its political subdivisions, the public at large, or by entities granted the power of eminent domain, or for the removal of urban blight. The amendment would prohibit the taking of private property for transfer to a private entity for the purpose of economic development or to increase tax revenues. The amendment would also limit the legislature’s authority to grant the power of eminent domain in the future unless it is approved by a two-thirds vote of all the members elected to each house.

Additional information about the proposed amendments can be found online at http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/whatisontheballot.shtml