Voters Have State Constitutional Amendments For Consideration

The local option election in Van Zandt County Precinct 1 might be grabbing most of the attention for Nov. 3, but voters countywide will have 11 state constitutional amendments to consider on that same date.

Some have more bearing than others on Van Zandt County and its residents.

Proposition 2, for instance, would make a change in the ad valorem taxation law so that a residence homestead could be taxed only on the basis of its use as a residence homestead.

As explained on the League of Women Voters of Texas’ Web site, "Residence homesteads throughout the state have expe-rienced increasing appraisal values, in some instances more than 200 percent in one year, especially if the property is not covered by zoning regulations.

"This is due to the appraisal practice known as ‘highest and best use,’ a common appraisal method that allows property to be valued on its potential use rather than the current use," the explanation stated.

If this constitutional amendment is approved by voters, it would not apply to second homes or investment properties, the site adds.

Proposition 8, which would authorize the state to contribute money, property and other resources for the establishment, maintenance and operation of veterans’ hospitals in the state, could also draw interest locally.

Proponents argue the amendment could help lead to more veterans’ hospitals in Texas, which has the third largest number of residing veterans in the nation.

The other constitutional amendments on the ballot are as follows:

Proposition 1 — Authorizing the financing, including through tax increment financing, of the acquisition by municipalities and counties of buffer area or open spaces adjacent to a military installation for the prevention of encroachment or the construction of roadways, utilities, or other in-frastructure to protect or promote the mission of the military installation.

Proposition 3 — Providing for uniform standards and procedures for the appraisal of property for ad valorem tax purposes.

Proposition 4 — 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.

Proposition 5 — Authorizing the legislature to authorize a single board of equalization for two or more adjoining appraisal entities that elect to provide for consolidated equalizations.

Proposition 6 — Authorizing the Veterans’ Land Board to issue general obligation bonds in amounts equal to or less than amounts previously authorized.

Proposition 7 — Allow an officer or enlisted member of the Texas State Guard or other state militia or military force to hold other civil office.

Proposition 9 — 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.

Proposition 10 — Provide that elected members of the governing boards of emergency service districts may serve terms not to exceed four years.

Proposition 11 — 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.

For more explanations of these proposed state constitutional amendments and the arguments for and against them, visit www.lwvtexas.org.