What it says: “The constitutional amendment authorizing the financing, including through tax increment financing, of the acquisition by municipalities and counties of buffer areas or open spaces adjacent to a military installation for the prevention of encroachment or the construction of roadways, utilities or other infrastructure to protect or promote the mission of the military installation.”
H-Z recommends: Yes. With Camp Bullis and other military installations so close, this community knows their value to the local economy. Military installations raise the property tax and sales tax base of nearby communities and they provide jobs — both military and civilian.
Camp Bullis can be partly credited for keeping employment stable in the Greater San Antonio area at a time when the rest of the country is suffering from rising unemployment. For proof of that statement, one only needs to think back to the ripple effect when Kelly Air Force Base closed and many civilians lost jobs.
Proposition 1 will expand this community’s ability to keep existing military installations here. And this is the time to pass it — as we grow and as this region continues to grow.
Proposition 2:
What it says: “The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for the ad valorem taxation of a residence homestead solely on the basis of the property’s value as a residence homestead.”
H-Z recommends: Yes. Appraisal values have increased in some cases by 200 percent in one year due to the “highest and best use” appraisal method. Meaning property is appraised because of what it could be, not necessarily what it is or actually will be.
This is analogous to taxing citizens on profit they could be making, not for profits made.
Proposition 2 authorizes the legislature to require a residence be appraised only on the basis of the property’s value as a residence, regardless of the “highest and best use” of the property’s value.
Proposition 3:
What it says: “The constitutional amendment providing for uniform standards and procedures for the appraisal of property for ad valorem tax purposes.”
H-Z recommends: Yes, … (Quick definition: “Ad valorem” is Latin for “according to value”.) Opponents (many of them appraisal districts) say this proposition takes away local control and adds bureaucratic red tape to the appraisal process.
However, having uniform, statewide standards in the appraisal process could be a good thing for taxpayers.
Taxpayers have had enough problems with appraisal districts — different standards for business and residential, and in some cases different standards for different individual businesses and residences.
However, if the state process to set these standards is compromised or corrupted by special interests then this change could actually work against property taxpayers.
Proposition 4:
What it says: “The constitutional amendment establishing the national research university fund to enable emerging research universities in this state to achieve national prominence as major research universities and transferring the balance of the higher education fund to the national research university fund.”
H-Z recommends: No. The real problem with this proposition is that it does not have a sunset provision — a time to take stock, to check if it’s working.
A process without scrutiny is particularly inappropriate as an addition to the Texas constitution.
Proposition 5:
What it says: “The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to authorize a single board of equalization for two or more adjoining appraisal entities that elect to provide for consolidated equalizations.”
H-Z recommends: Yes. This proposition will not affect a community the size of Comal County, but will be an extra and needed tool for smaller counties in rural Texas.
Proposition 6:
What it says: “The constitutional amendment authorizing the Veterans’ Land Board to issue general obligation bonds in amounts equal to or less than amounts previously authorized.”
H-Z recommends: No. While there isn’t one among us who doesn’t support veterans and their interests, that does not mean the entities representing veterans are above scrutiny.
The Veterans’ Land Board must ask for approval before it issues debt. Accountability is just as important with this group as with any other.
Proposition 7:
What it says: “The constitutional amendment to allow an officer or enlisted member of the Texas State Guard or other state militia or military force to hold other civil offices.”
H-Z recommends: Yes. Currently, enlisted members of the National Guard and the U.S. Armed Forces are allowed to serve and to hold public office. The Texas State Guard was not included in this allowance when it was previously added to the Texas Constitution.
Proposition 8:
What it says: “The constitutional amendment authorizing the state to contribute money, property and other resources for the establishment, maintenance and operation of veterans’ hospitals in this state.”
H-Z recommends: No. This does not belong in the Texas Constitution.
This is on the ballot because the members of the Legislature do not have the courage to pass tax-raising measures. Our elected lawmakers are trying to get out of being responsible for raising taxes.
Proposition 9:
What it says: “The constitutional amendment to protect the right of the public, individually and collectively, to access and use the public beaches bordering the seaward shore of the Gulf of Mexico.”
H-Z recommends: Yes. Texas does not have enough public land access. To often in Texas open space is reserved for those who have the money to afford it. The public’s unrestricted right to access beaches has been a law since 1959 with the passage of the Open Beaches Act.
This constitutional amendment would make that easement permanent. Future generations will be grateful.
Proposition 10:
What it says: “The constitutional amendment to provide that elected members of the governing boards of emergency service districts may serve terms not to exceed four years.”
H-Z recommends: No. This amendment will not affect Comal County. Our emergency service district boards are not elected. However, this amendment changes the current two-year term for ESD board members into four-year terms.
Emergency service districts are taxing entities. Voters should retain the freedom to vote a board member out of office every two years.
Proposition 11:
What it says: “The constitutional amendment to prohibit the taking, damaging or destroying of private property for public use unless the action is for the ownership, use and enjoyment of the property by the State, a political subdivision of the State, the public at large or entities granted the power of eminent domain under law or for the elimination of urban blight on a particular parcel of property, but not for certain economic development or enhancement of tax revenue purposes, and to limit the legislature’s authority to grant the power of eminent domain to an entity.”
H-Z recommends: No. Texas law already forbids the taking of private property for purposes of economic development or the benefit of a private party.
If the legislature wants to change Texas law on eminent domain, lawmakers should have the courage to do it themselves or write an amendment that is clear, rather than confusing and poorly written.
