Early voting ends Friday in amendments election

Early voting continues in Palo Pinto County through Friday in advance of Tuesday's constitutional amendments election.

Early voting is taking place today, Thursday and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Palo Pinto County Courthouse.

The 81st Texas Legislature proposes 11 constitutional amendments to voters Nov. 3, with early voting underway. Want to know what you are voting on?

The following is abbreviated information on each proposition, which comes from the Texas Secretary of State and the Texas House Research Organization.

The Texas House Research Organization provides in-depth information as well as arguments in support and opposition – visit www.hro.house.state.tx.us and click on “Constitutional Amendments.” The Texas Legislative Council also offers analysis of each proposed amendment at www.tlc.state.tx.us/pubsconamend/pubsconamend.html. This is also available through the Texas Secretary of State at www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/whatisontheballot.shtml.

Proposition 1 – Authorizing city and county financing to buy buffer areas near military installations.

Proposition 1 (HJR 132) would authorize the legislature to allow a municipality or a county to issue bonds and notes to finance the purchase of buffer areas or open spaces adjacent to military installations. The buffer areas would be used to prevent encroachment or to construct roadways utilities, or other infrastructure to protect or promote the mission of the military installation. The municipality or county may pledge increases in ad valorem tax revenues for repayment of the bonds or notes.

Proposition 2 – Requiring appraisal of residence homesteads based solely on their homestead value.

Proposition 2 (HJR 36) would provide for the taxation of a residence homestead solely on the basis of 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 – Allowing state enforcement of uniform property appraisal standards and procedures

Proposition 3 (HJR 36) 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 – Establishing the National Research University Fund.

Proposition 4 (HJR 14) would amend the constitution to establish the national research university fund to provide a source of funding that will enable emerging research universities in this state to develop into major research universities. The amendment would require the legislature to dedicate state revenue to the fund and to transfer the balance of the existing higher education fund to the national research university fund. This amendment would further require the legislature to establish the criteria by which a state university may become eligible to receive and use distributions from the fund.

Proposition 5 – Allowing consolidated boards of equalization for appraisal districts.

Proposition 5 (HJR 36) would amend the constitution to authorize the legislature to allow for a single appraisal review board for two or more adjoining appraisal entities that elect to provide for consolidated reviews of tax appraisals.

Proposition 6 – Renewing Veteran's Land Board bond authority for land and mortgage loans.

Proposition 6 (HJR 116) would amend the constitution to authorize the Veterans' Land Board to issue general obligation bonds, subject to certain constitutional limits, for the purpose of selling land and providing home or land mortgage loans to veterans of the state.

Proposition 7 – Allowing members of the Texas State Guard to hold civil office.

Proposition 7 (HJR 127) would amend the constitution to 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 – Authorizing the state to contribute resources to veteran's hospitals.

Proposition 8 (HJR 7) would authorize the state to contribute money, property, and other resources for the establishment, maintenance and operation of veterans’ hospitals in this state.

Proposition 9 – Establishing a right to use and access public beaches.

HJR 102 (HJR 102) would define what is a state-owned public beach. The public, individually and collectively, would have an unrestricted right to use and a right of ingress to and egress from a public beach. The amendment would authorize the legislature to enact laws to protect these rights.

Proposition 10 – Allowing board members of emergency services districts to serve four years.

Proposition 10 (HJR 85) would provide that members of the governing board of an emergency services district may serve terms not to exceed four years.

Proposition 11 – Restricting use of eminent domain to taking property for public purposes.

Proposition 11 (HJR 14) would provide that the taking of private property for public use (“eminent domain”) is authorized only if it is for the ownership, use, and enjoyment of the property by the state, its political subdivisions, the public at large, or by entities granted the power of eminent domain, or for the removal of urban blight. The amendment would prohibit the taking of private property for transfer to a private entity for the purpose of economic development or to increase tax revenues. The amendment would also limit the legislature's authority to grant the power of eminent domain in the future unless it is approved by a two-thirds vote of all the members elected to each house.