Posted on 10/12/2009 8:41:11 AM PDT by Ro_Thunder
Proposition 2 (HJR 36 - #1) The proposed amendment would appear on the ballot as follows: "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."
Proposition 3 (HJR 36 - #3) The proposed amendment would appear on the ballot as follows: "The constitutional amendment providing for uniform standards and procedures for the appraisal of property for ad valorem tax purposes."
Proposition 11 (HJR 14 - #1) The proposed amendment would appear on the ballot as follows: "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."
(Excerpt) Read more at sos.state.tx.us ...
Here’s what my state rep, Charlie Howard, has to say about proposed amendments 1, 2, and 3 (from his newsletter):
Prop 1: This amendment would authorize cities and counties to issue bonds or notes to finance acquisition of buffer areas to prevent encroachment and to fund the construction of roadways or infrastructure to protect and promote the military installations. There are many military bases in Texas that provide tremendous economic benefits to the state, as well as to the counties and cities within which they are located. The billions of dollars in payrolls and federal investment related to these bases are in danger of being lost due to continued encroachment by development around the military installations.
Prop 2: The amendment would allow the Legislature to require residence homestead property to be taxed solely on the basis of its value as a residence homestead, regardless of whether the residential use is considered to be the highest and best use. Currently, the Texas Constitution provides that no property of any kind shall be assessed for property taxes at greater than fair market cash value, nor shall any board of equalization of any governmental or political subdivision or taxing district fix the value of any property for tax purposes at more than fair cash value. However, residence homesteads throughout the state have experienced increasing appraisal values, in some instances more than 200 percent in one year, due to an appraisal practice known as “highest and best use”. This widely accepted standard allows homes to be valued based on the property’s potential use rather than the property’s current use. This practice creates the potential for skyrocketing appraisal values for residence homesteads located near new commercial development.
Prop 3: The amendment would give the legislature full discretion to prescribe the manner of the enforcement of uniform appraisal standards and procedures. The appreaisal review board is the current forum for administrative enforcement, and the district court is the current forum for judicial enforcement of uniform appraisal standards and procedures.
Based on these descriptions, I am for 2, and I need to check into 1 & 3 a little further before I make up my mind. I’m not sure of the motivation for 3. I would like to hear pros & cons. And I would want to be sure that we aren’t getting into another round of eminent domain issues with Prop 1. I can see heading off development by acquiring undeveloped property. But if someone has already built on the property, I am not so keen about authorizing the government to confiscate the property.
Yeppers...
When all he has to do is beat a liberal idiot, a liberal dyke, and a liberal lawyer...
A proven conservative, a veteran working on a principled agenda...I believe he can bring a lot to the table and manage this city better than the status quo for the last 30 some odd years...
Houston is not doing that bad (IMO), but it could use some cleaning up...Some of the liberal deadwood is collecting too much lint and needs to be burned...
If conservative only knew that this line up consists of these people and their political affiliations and liberal agenda, the ONE conservative that stands out, should be a no brainer to know what to do here in a few weeks...
The liberals are going to be divided between the other three, so if the conservative voting base in this town actually shows up, we do have a significant chance to beat a divided liberal voting base...
Otherwise, I don’t want to hear, or see, any bitchin’ after November 3rd...WE have a great chance here to put into place a conservative Republican in the big chair in the 4th largest city in the country...That will be an accomplishment worthy of note...
ping
Reminder to vote HELL NO on the constitutional amendment to turn public universities into “research” institutions which will then immediately forget about educating the students they were originally created to serve.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.