By: Adam Russell
Tyler Paper- Texans will decide the fate of nine state constitutional amendments on Nov. 5. Early voting begins Monday.
Constitutional amendment elections draw historically low voter turnouts. In 2011, 5 percent of the state’s 13 million registered voters cast ballots.
Of the nine propositions, few have garnered media coverage. Two provisions, Proposition 1 and Proposition 4, would affect spouses of veterans disabled or killed in action.
Proposition 1 would exempt a surviving spouse all or part of homestead property taxes. Proposition 4 would exempt portions of the homestead taxes for partially disabled veterans and their spouses.
Smith County Veterans Services Officer Marshal Joslin said extending benefits to spouses would help families of veterans in a difficult time.
“If a veteran is killed in action, there definitely needs to be some way for the family to receive those benefits,” he said. “It helps alleviate the financial burden they might experience after losing a loved one.”
Joslin said Texas has made many efforts to help veterans receive service benefits.
There are more than 16,000 veterans in the county, but Joslin said he did not know how many were 100 percent disabled. The Veterans Affairs Department in Tyler was closed due to the federal shutdown.
Much of the early attention surrounding the proposed amendments is on Proposition 6, which would effectively create the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas and the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas. The fund would free up $2 billion to provide low-interest loans for water projects.
The revolving $2 billion fund would help projects approved by regional water development boards and the Texas Water Development Board meet early financial needs. The $2 billion, which came from the state’s Economic Stabilization Fund (Rainy Day fund), would leverage about $50 billion for projects during the next five decades, he said. The loans would be paid back to the fund via revenues generated by projects.
Most state leaders, including the governor, lieutenant governor, Texas House speaker and around 150 of 181 state legislators support the proposition they believe will jumpstart needed projects and provide long-term answers to the most necessary natural resource. Not addressing the state’s water needs could be detrimental to a state with population growth expected to increase by 6 million residents in the next decade.
Sen. Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler, said the recent experience with statewide drought should be a wake-up call for all Texans.
“We have to do something at the state level to help locals jumpstart and build reservoirs, and that’s what this revolving fund does,” he said.
But local state Rep. Matt Schaefer, R-Tyler, was among the dissenting voters against Proposition 6 going to November ballots. He agreed there is a need to address water infrastructure, but he disagreed with where the money would come from and constitutionally dedicating the money.
Schaefer said legislators could have found a portion or all of the money within the general budget rather than taking money from the Rainy Day fund when the session deadline loomed. He said dedicating the funding via a constitutional amendment is little more than an accounting gimmick that avoids the money being counted against the spending cap each biennium. Once constitutionally dedicated, the funding and the program would be difficult to undo, he said.
“I agree with the what. I just don’t agree with the how,” he said.
Proposition 2 would remove references to the State Medical Education Board and Fund, which have not been in operation since 1988.
Proposition 3 would extend the number of days aircraft parts are exempt from ad valorem taxation. Proponents view the proposition as an incentive for the aerospace industry by exempting the inventory tax for parts and supplies stored in state. Opponents consider it an exemption for one industry and that other industries with high volumes of idle inventory may seek exemptions.
Proposition 5 would allow homeowners 62 and older to utilize reverse mortgages to purchase homesteads. Proponents say that by using a “reverse mortgage for purchase,” the homeowner can occupy a new residence without making a single mortgage payment. Opponents say the process is complicated and that surveys show consumers often don’t understand the process and make bad decisions even after required counseling.
Proposition 7 would allow local entities such as city councils to fill vacated council positions without a special election when the unexpired term is less than 12 months.
Proponents say it will reduce taxpayer costs because a special election would not be necessary if an elected official dies or leaves office. Opponents believe it could increase opportunity of corruption by allowing city council members to appoint each other.
Proposition 8 would affect taxpayers in Hidalgo County and efforts to create a hospital district.
