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Today's election includes propositions that could amend constitution

Written by Jason Boyd, The Shorthorn news editor

Monday, 02 November 2009 06:42 PM

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Tuesday’s election have propositions possibly changing eminent domain rules, tax appraisals and the future of Texas higher education.

Most would, if passed, amend the Texas constitution. The university hosted early voting Oct. 26 and Oct. 27, but today is the official election day.

Summaries of the Texas Secretary of State’s description of all 11 propositions follow.

Proposition 1
Concerns allowing a municipality or county to issue bonds and notes financing purchase of buffer areas or open spaces adjacent to military installations. Those buffer areas would be used to protect or promote those installations by constructing roadway utilities or preventing encroachment. The municipality or county could then pledge increases in revenues of ad valorem tax, a tax based on the value of real estate or personal property, to repay the bonds or notes.

Proposition 2
Would authorize the Texas Legislature to provide for the taxation of a residence homestead solely on 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
Would 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
Would reallocate the $500 million Texas Higher Education Fund to the proposed National Research University Fund, which would be usable in the future by emerging research institutions, like UTA. A university would have to meet certain criteria to be eligible for using money from the fund.

Proposition 5
Would authorize the Legislature to allow for a single appraisal review board to decide for two or more adjoining appraisal entities when electing to provide for consolidated reviews of tax appraisals.

Proposition 6
Would authorize the Veterans’ Land Board to issue general obligation bonds, subject to constitutional limits, for the purpose of selling land and providing home or land mortgage loans to the state’s veterans.

Proposition 7
Would 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
Would authorize the state to contribute money, property and other resources for the establishment, maintenance and operation of veterans’ hospitals.

Proposition 9
Would give the public, individually and collectively, an unrestricted right to use and access public beaches bordering the shore of the Gulf of Mexico. It would also authorize the Legislature to enact laws to protect these rights.

Proposition 10
Would restrict terms to not exceed four years for members of the governing board of an emergency services district, a political subdivision established by local voters to raise money through ad valorem taxes on all real property located within the district.

Proposition 11
Would mandate that the taking of private property for public use, eminent domain, be authorized only if it is for the ownership, use and enjoyment of the property by the state, political subdivisions, the public at large, entities granted the power of eminent domain and for the removal of urban blight. The amendment would also increase votes needed to approve eminent domain to a two-thirds vote of all the members elected to each house.

— Information compiled by Jason Boyd

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