Published: November 03, 2009 07:17 am      

Election Day is here

State, local issues on ballot, including 11 constitutional amendments

Election day has arrived and many area voters are still unsure on whether to vote for or against the 11 constitutional issues on the ballot, and the one local issue facing a certain group of area residents.

Voting begins at 7 a.m. today and will continue until 7 p.m. A total of 1,848 ballots were received during the early voting period from Oct. 19 through Oct. 30.

Of the 34 voting boxes, only Box 16 at the Mauriceville Volunteer Fire Department, 10691 N. State Highway 62 in Mauriceville, will have to contend with voters debating a local issue.

The sole local issue ton today’s ballot for Box 16 voters which pertains to Orange County Emergency Services District 4. The ESD is seeking voter approval to increase the local sales and use tax rate by 2 percent.

The district covers approximately 40 square miles in the Mauriceville and Gist area and supports two fire departments located in McLewis and Mauriceville. The ESD’s personnel also assist other area fire departments in Orange County when needed.

According to the Associated Press, 11 proposed constitutional amendments go before Texas voters in the Nov. 3 election. The proposals passed both chambers of the Legislature with a two-thirds vote and must win voter approval to be added to the state constitution. The propositions are:



PROPOSITION 1: Authorizes financing methods for municipalities and counties to acquire buffer zones or open spaces next to military bases. The proposal could prevent encroachment next to the base and allow construction of roads, utilities and other infrastructure to promote the mission of a military base.

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PROPOSITION 2: Allows the Legislature to provide for ad valorem taxation of a residence homestead solely on the basis of the property's value as a residence, not at the potentially higher commercial use value.

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PROPOSITION 3: Provides for uniform standards and procedures for the appraisal of property for taxation. Texas lacks uniform standards, and proponents say this amendment would ensure that property in diverse parts of the state are valued using the same generally accepted practices.

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PROPOSITION 4: Establishes a national research university fund to help emerging research universities achieve national prominence as major research universities. Those pushing the proposal say it will provide funding similar to what elevated Texas A&M University and the University of Texas to Tier One status, providing jobs and stature or the state. Others question whether now is the time to spend such money.

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PROPOSITION 5: Permits the Texas Legislature to allow a single board of equalization for two or more adjoining appraisal entities. That means area appraisal boards can be consolidated if they choose.

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PROPOSITION 6: Authorizes the Veterans' Land Board to issue general obligation bonds in amounts equal to or less than amounts previously authorized. It would prevent the land board from continually having to seek legislative authorization.

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PROPOSITION 7: Allows an officer or enlisted member of the Texas State Guard or other state militia or military force to hold other civil offices. This would correct what some say is an oversight in the state constitution.

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PROPOSITION 8: Authorizes the state to contribute money, property and other resources to establish veterans hospital. It's designed to speed up efforts to open a federal Veterans Administration hospital in the Rio Grande Valley, where residents currently must travel to San Antonio to receive some VA hospital services.

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PROPOSITION 9: Protects the right of the public to access and use the public beaches bordering the seaward shore of the Gulf of Mexico. This would block private developers from restricting beach access to the public, but some say it could infringe on private property rights.

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PROPOSITION 10: Limits elected members of the governing boards of emergency services districts to terms no longer than four years.

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PROPOSITION 11: Prohibits governments from taking private property for private economic development to increase a tax base. It also limits the Legislature's power to grant eminent domain authority to a governmental entity.



The Orange County Election Administration office can be reached at 409-882-7973 for more information.



Tommy Mann Jr. is a reporter for The Orange Leader. He can be reached at 409-883-3571, Ext. 2619 or tmann@orangeleader.com

Judy Eaves, presiding judge at one of the many area locations in today’s election, signs in after receiving her voting box and information. Voting begins at 7 a.m., today, and continues through 7 p.m. at the 34 Orange County voting boxes.