But state law does not require voters to have detailed information on the ballot to make an informed decision. There are two variables that determine the total amount of property taxes homeowners pay each year: the tax rate and the appraised value of the home. The Texas Constitution is a patchwork of amendments — 498 times since it was ratified in 1876 — and voters on Nov. 5 will be asked to add 10 more amendments to the state’s guiding document. Proposition 7 would raise that cap from $300 million per year to $600 million. How it reads: “The constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the flood infrastructure fund to assist in the financing of drainage, flood mitigation, and flood control projects.”. Texas lawmakers have limited the amount local officials can increase property taxes each year on existing taxpayers, otherwise known as the “rollback rate.” Under current law, if the proposed tax increase exceeds this “rollback” threshold, local citizens can conduct a signature petition drive to force a public vote on the tax rate. "Texas’ constitutional amendment election is Tuesday. TFR Stance: Support Proposition 10Our Reasoning: Currently illegal due to prohibitions on “special benefits” and “gifts,” Proposition 10 is a commonsense change to the constitution that should save taxpayer money while treating service animals and their handlers with respect. PUBLISHED 6:03 AM CT Nov. 06, 2019 PUBLISHED 6:03 AM CST Nov. 06, 2019. Under that process, agencies begin at their previous appropriation amount and are provided increases to account for rising costs, population, etc. Your 2019 voter guide to state constitutional amendments on the ballot in Texas Texas voters can vote for or against 10 amendments to the state’s constitution Nov. 5. Constitutional Amendment Election of November 5, 2019 House Research Organization Amendments Proposed for the November 5, 2019 election. Rather than capping only a portion of the budget, all state spending (including those related to drawing down federal funds) should be subject to the cap, and a super-majority vote of both legislative chambers should be required to exceed it. Texans will vote on 10 proposed constitutional amendments beginning Monday for early voting and on Election Day, Nov. 5. That fund has performed like gangbusters with the oil boom, but school children haven’t shared in the bounty because the state constitution caps the amount that can be transferred from the Public School Fund, which manages the land assets, into the Available School Fund, which distributes money to school districts. The idea of state and local governments using tax revenue in an effort to “create wealth” contradicts free market values and the principles of open competition. There can be little doubt that tax-funded lobbyists have had a hand in that role — and considering more than half of registered lobbyists are funded by local governments, it’s time to end this fundamentally anti-taxpayer practice. That’s certainly what it feels like to most taxpayers when they receive the annual property tax bill. TFR Stance: Support Proposition 3Our Reasoning: Local governments should be given more tools with which to provide tax relief for property owners. Proposition 4 makes it harder for a future legislature to impose an economically destructive income tax on our state. There’s no need to clutter the constitution with unnecessary amendments like this. LRL Home - Legislation - Constitutional Amendments - Analysis of proposed constitutional amendments. Economic development is the overlying idea behind the programs, however, they have received heavy criticism due to the state’s inability to effectively measure their economic impact, a lack of accountability, and the picking of “winners and losers” by the government officials. What it means: The Texas Water Development Board will be allowed to issue bonds, and therefore go into debt, in order to continue financing water supply, sewer service, and drainage projects in economically distressed areas. Though the state legislature must pass a balanced budget (meaning spending can be no greater than the revenue anticipated), the state constitution and enacting statutes only limit the spending growth in certain areas. Approving this amendment is fiscally prudent and morally right. This creates a major problem during times when local governments can’t afford to pay the full actuarial required amount into their pensions systems. PROPOSITION 6: Authorizing the legislature to increase by $3 billion the maximum bond amount authorized for the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. Proposition 6 allowed the Texas State Legislature to increase the maximum amount of bonds for the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) from $3 billion to $6 billion. Dallas Morning News Editorial. The Texas Franchise Tax is an overly complex tax levied on Texas businesses’ gross revenue. What it means: Precious metals stored in the state depository would not be subject to being taxed as income-producing business assets. Existing residents should not be tax-gouged each year for the same services, without an option to vote on the tax increase. Proposition 1 would allow an individual to hold more than one office as an elected or appointed municipal judge for multiple municipalities at the same time. was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. What it means: If it is in the best interest of the animal, the law enforcement animals will be allowed to be transferred to its caretaker upon retirement. How it reads: “The constitutional amendment dedicating the revenue received from the existing state and use taxes that are imposed on sporting goods to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Historical Commission to protect Texas’ natural areas, water, quality, and history by acquiring, managing, and improving state and local parks and historical sites while not increasing the rate of the sales and use taxes.”. In addition, little research has been provided to show that the benefits of the programs actually outweigh the financial costs. Unfortunately, no such freedom exists when local governments decide to use your tax dollars to lobby the state legislature. Texas’ relatively friendly business environment and low tax rates serve as a pre-existing draw for businesses and a natural catalyst for economic growth. PROPOSITION 1: Permitting a person to hold more than one office as a municipal judge at the same time. How it reads: “The constitutional amendment providing for the issuance of additional general obligation bonds by the Texas Water Development Board in an amount not to exceed $200 million to provide financial assistance for the development of certain projects in economically distressed areas.”. How it will read on the ballot: “The constitutional amendment permitting a person to hold more than one office as a municipal judge at the same time.” What it means: … Approving it is the fair thing to do. All rights reserved. What is most egregious about the practice of tax-funded lobbying is the policy goals these lobbyists seek. Good “ethics reform” should be aimed directly at eliminating and exposing this self-dealing. Texas 2019 constitutional amendment election results. Our parks are in need of constant upkeep as we attract more Texans. These dollars would allow the state to improve public health and provide for economic development. The answer to this should be a zero-based budgeting system. CLARIFICATION, Oct. 21, 2019: This editorial was updated to clarify that a constitutional amendment would be required to make a change to ad valorem taxation regarding precious metals. Amendments to the Texas Constitution Since 1876 for more information. So it’s good to fund a robust parks system and historical commission to protect our architectural treasures. Current law allows local officials to hold the “needs” of a community hostage to unnecessary “wants,” by lumping hundreds of unrelated projects into a single, one-sentence, all-or-nothing proposition. Taxpayers should tell their legislators to pass meaningful appraisal reform to hold appraisal districts accountable to the public, not local taxing entities, and lower the cap on appraisal increases to protect taxpayers from dramatic increases in their property tax bills. 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