Eleven amendments up for vote tomorrow

Local elections involve Rio Vista, Keene and Joshua

By Matt Smith/msmith@trcle.com

Tuesday 3 brings four elections, one of which involves all Johnson County residents while the other three involve Rio Vista, Keene and Joshua residents.

County residents have the opportunity to join fellow Texans to vote on proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution that day.

Rio Vista residents will, for the seventh time, weigh in on the sale of liquor within city limits for off-premise consumption.

Keene residents will vote on a city council race, and Joshua residents will vote on bond elections to fund city improvements.



Constitutional amendments

Of the 11 proposed amendments, several affect Johnson County while others are of little or no regard to the area, said state Rep. Rob Orr, R-Burleson.

Orr expressed support for amendments addressing reforms to property tax appraisal, eminent domain and support of service men and women.

Three amendments address proposed changes to the way property tax appraisals are conducted.

“Whenever the annual property tax appraisals are mailed out, I tell my staff to expect an increase in calls and e-mails,” Orr said. “It always seems like the appraisal districts have a generous view of what your property is worth.”

The appraisal side forms only half the story of property taxes, Orr said, with the tax rate providing the other half.

“In 2006, the legislature addressed the rates side of the equation by lowering the rate school districts set for their operations,” Orr said. “This past spring, the legislature made changes to the appraisal side of the equation.”

Three of those changes require constitutional amendments to implement and are addressed in proposed amendments 2, 3 and 5.

Amendment 2 would authorize 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.

“Currently the standard used in valuing property is its highest and best use, which is what the property could be used for rather than what the property is being used for,” Orr said. “The problem is when a home is near a commercial property and could be sold and turned into commercial rather than residential property.”

Passage of Amendment 2 will protect residential homesteads from large, unexpected increases in tax appraisals, Orr said.

Amendment 3 would provide uniform standards and procedures for property appraisals.

“Currently each appraisal district essentially decides for itself what approaches to use in determining appraised values,” Orr said. “This has created a situation where the same type of property is valued by different methods based on its location.”

The system sometimes works to the benefit of a landowner but more often doesn’t, Orr said. Orr called the system a haphazard approach that creates imbalances in the school finance system.

Amendment 5 would allow adjoining appraisal districts to create a joint, or consolidated, review board.

“Such an action could allow the districts to have lower costs overall, which could be passed down to taxpayers indirectly, and to have more resources and expertise in the review process,” Orr said.

Orr indicated strong support for Amendment 11, which addresses eminent domain and public use.

The amendment would 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, entities granted the power of eminent domain under law or for the elimination of urban blight on a particular parcel of property.

The amendment would ban such takings for certain economic development or enhancement of tax revenue purposes and limit the legislature’s authority to grant the power of eminent domain to an entity.

“Reforming the way eminent domain is used in Texas has been a central part of my legislative efforts since I was first elected,” Orr said. “The bulk of the amendment ensures that eminent domain will only be used for a genuine public purpose and that economic development and transferring land to another private party would not be allowed.

“Also, the constitution would be changed to require that any entity seeking the right of eminent domain power must receive a two-thirds approval from each chamber of the legislature.”

The amendment would also restrict the ability to condemn for reasons of blight, requiring the legislature to target specific properties rather than entire areas or neighborhoods.

Orr also expressed support for Amendment 4, which would create a fund to raise more Texas universities to so-called tier one, research university status. Texas only has three such universities: Rice University, The University of Texas and Texas A&M; University.

Amendments 6, 7 and 8 would help service men and women, Orr said.

Amendment 6 would allow the Veterans Land Board to issue bonds to finance its operations. VLB helps veterans buy land and homes in Texas through loans.

“Even in the current mortgage crisis, the default rate for these loans is less than one half of 1 percent,” Orr said. “This is an example of a government program that works well. I believe it deserves our continued support.”

Amendment 8 would allow Texas to contribute money, property and other resources to establish, maintain and operate veterans hospitals.

Amendment 7 would remove the prohibition against Texas State Guard members from holding two paid civil offices concurrently.

Amendment 1 allows local governments to purchase land around military bases to establish a buffer zone, and Amendment 9 would put into the Constitution longtime state statutes about access to public beaches.

Amendment 10 sets the term of emergency services district board members at not more than four years.

Although several amendments have little relevance to Johnson County, others are important, Orr said.

He and Johnson County Elections Administrator Patty Bourgeois encouraged county residents to take the time to vote in what is expected to be a low-turnout election.

“At a state conference I attended recently, they’re expecting a really low turnout, maybe 2-3 percent,” Bourgeois said. “Unfortunately, voters don’t really pay much attention to constitutional amendment elections.”

Early voting in the amendment election runs Oct. 19-30. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Oct. 23 and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 26-30. Oct. 24 hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and 1-6 p.m. on Oct. 25.



Residents may vote early at any of the following six locations:

zx Hill College, 2112 Mayfield Drive, Cleburne.

zx Burleson Courthouse Annex, 247 Elk Drive, Burleson.

zx Commissioner Precinct 3 Maintenance Facility, 10420 E. Farm-to-Market Road 917, Alvarado.

zx Johnson County Pioneers and Old Settlers Reunion, 1111 Reunion Drive, Alvarado.

zx Johnson County Precinct 4 Maintenance Facility, 4300 E. FM 4, Cleburne.

For information, call 817-556-6389 or visit www.johnsoncountyelections.com.



Rio Vista

Elections involving liquor sales in Rio Vista have become somewhat of a tradition in recent years. So much so that the Johnson County Commissioners Court recently voted to bill the city for the cost and any such future elections. In earlier elections, Rio Vista voters several times rejected the proposal. The measure twice passed only to be ruled void by subsequent court action. Come Nov. 3, Rio Vista residents will have their say once more. Early voting times and locations are the same as above.



Keene

Three city council seats are up for election this November, but only the Ward II, Place I seat is contested. In that race former Councilman Dale Janes faces challengers Cheryl R. Schram and David McCormick. Early voting runs from Oct. 19-30 at the Keene City Hall. Times are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. except for Oct. 21 and 28 when they are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.



Joshua

Joshua residents will vote on three city bond elections.

Proposition 1 involves issuance of $2.7 million of bonds to finance a new fire station.

Proposition 2 involves $850,000 in bonds to finance street, curb, gutter and sidewalk improvements.

Proposition 3 involves $2.6 million in bonds to finance drainage improvements.

Early voting is Oct. 19-30 at Joshua City Hall. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 20-23 and Oct. 27-30 and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 19 and 26.