Texas 2011 Election Ballot (Propositions)

RileyE104

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Early voting starts on Monday.
I'd like to know about these items so I can vote on them.
Anyone want to help me out? I'd like to hear opinions on this stuff from like-minded people.


Proposition Number 1 (SJR 14): The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of all or part of the market value of the residence homestead of the surviving spouse of a 100 percent or totally disabled veteran.

Proposition Number 2 (SJR 4): The constitutional amendment providing for the issuance of additional general obligation bonds by the Texas Water Development Board in an amount not to exceed $6 billion at any time outstanding.

Proposition Number 3 (SJR 50): The constitutional amendment providing for the issuance of general obligation bonds of the State of Texas to finance educational loans to students.

Proposition Number 4 (HJR 63): The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to permit a county to issue bonds or notes to finance the development or redevelopment of an unproductive, underdeveloped, or blighted area and to pledge for repayment of the bonds or notes increases in ad valorem taxes imposed by the county on property in the area. The amendment does not provide authority for increasing ad valorem tax rates.

Proposition Number 5 (SJR 26): The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to allow cities or counties to enter into interlocal contracts with other cities or counties without the imposition of a tax or the provision of a sinking fund.

Proposition Number 6 (HJR 109): The constitutional amendment clarifying references to the permanent school fund, allowing the General Land Office to distribute revenue from permanent school fund land or other properties to the available school fund to provide additional funding for public education, and providing for an increase in the market value of the permanent school fund for the purpose of allowing increased distributions from the available school fund.

Proposition Number 7 (SJR 28): The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to permit conservation and reclamation districts in El Paso County to issue bonds supported by ad valorem taxes to fund the development and maintenance of parks and recreational facilities.

Proposition Number 8 (SJR 16): The constitutional amendment providing for the appraisal for ad valorem tax purposes of open-space land devoted to water-stewardship purposes on the basis of its productive capacity.

Proposition Number 9 (SJR 9): The constitutional amendment authorizing the governor to grant a pardon to a person who successfully completes a term of deferred adjudication community supervision.

Proposition Number 10 (SJR 37): The constitutional amendment to change the length of the unexpired term that causes the automatic resignation of certain elected county or district officeholders if they become candidates for another office.
 
Proposition One (being the only prop on the ballot that I've really considered so far) seems like an obvious yes to me.


I do have some questions about the other props...

1) What is a general obligation bond?

2) Someone please explain Prop#4 to me! Thanks! :)

3) In Prop #5, "without the imposition of a tax or the provision of a sinking fund" tends to give off a good vibe to me... Am I just letting the words "without" and "tax" confuse me into supporting this?

4) Prop #6, I don't really get either.. I could use some help to understand it.

5) From Prop #7, "permit conservation and reclamation districts... to issue bonds supported by ad valorem taxes" and from Prop #8, "providing for the appraisal for ad valorem tax" -- This type of wording sends me a bad vibe. Feedback?

6) Prop #9 seems like something I would be in favor of.. Although I have to admit I haven't looked into it that thoroughly. Opinions on this would be great.

7) I could use some help understanding Prop #10 as well.
 
Proposition Number 1 (SJR 14): The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of all or part of the market value of the residence homestead of the surviving spouse of a 100 percent or totally disabled veteran.
This is asking if you are willing to forcing everyone with a gun to their head to pay higher taxes except "the residence homestead of the surviving spouse of a 100 percent or totally disabled veteran." There might be a libertarian or two that support this but it is certainly a tax increase for 99.999% of property tax owners.
This is the worst one

Proposition Number 2 (SJR 4): The constitutional amendment providing for the issuance of additional general obligation bonds by the Texas Water Development Board in an amount not to exceed $6 billion at any time outstanding.
Terrible

Proposition Number 3 (SJR 50): The constitutional amendment providing for the issuance of general obligation bonds of the State of Texas to finance educational loans to students.
Terrible

Proposition Number 4 (HJR 63): The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to permit a county to issue bonds or notes to finance the development or redevelopment of an unproductive, underdeveloped, or blighted area and to pledge for repayment of the bonds or notes increases in ad valorem taxes imposed by the county on property in the area. The amendment does not provide authority for increasing ad valorem tax rates.
Terrible

Proposition Number 5 (SJR 26): The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to allow cities or counties to enter into interlocal contracts with other cities or counties without the imposition of a tax or the provision of a sinking fund.
Unsure

Proposition Number 6 (HJR 109): The constitutional amendment clarifying references to the permanent school fund, allowing the General Land Office to distribute revenue from permanent school fund land or other properties to the available school fund to provide additional funding for public education, and providing for an increase in the market value of the permanent school fund for the purpose of allowing increased distributions from the available school fund.
Terrible

Proposition Number 7 (SJR 28): The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to permit conservation and reclamation districts in El Paso County to issue bonds supported by ad valorem taxes to fund the development and maintenance of parks and recreational facilities.
Terrible

Proposition Number 8 (SJR 16): The constitutional amendment providing for the appraisal for ad valorem tax purposes of open-space land devoted to water-stewardship purposes on the basis of its productive capacity.
Unsure

Proposition Number 9 (SJR 9): The constitutional amendment authorizing the governor to grant a pardon to a person who successfully completes a term of deferred adjudication community supervision.
This is good, the best by far

Proposition Number 10 (SJR 37): The constitutional amendment to change the length of the unexpired term that causes the automatic resignation of certain elected county or district officeholders if they become candidates for another office.
Unsure
 
yes on 1, 9, 10
no on the others

I agree with this.

Proposition Number 1 (SJR 14): The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of all or part of the market value of the residence homestead of the surviving spouse of a 100 percent or totally disabled veteran.
This is asking if you are willing to forcing everyone with a gun to their head to pay higher taxes except "the residence homestead of the surviving spouse of a 100 percent or totally disabled veteran." There might be a libertarian or two that support this but it is certainly a tax increase for 99.999% of property tax owners.
This is the worst one

Prop 1 says nothing about raising taxes on anyone, those would remain the same. This just allows for tax cuts for certain people. I think most people here would support any tax cuts for anyone.
 
Prop 1 says nothing about raising taxes on anyone, those would remain the same. This just allows for tax cuts for certain people. I think most people here would support any tax cuts for anyone.

It clearly looks like a cut increase for nearly everyone to me. To unfairly cut taxes for certain folks, you need to increase taxes for everyone else. That is, unless you are going by the assumption that overall taxes will go down because of this which is possible but almost certainly not going to happen.
 
Proposition One (being the only prop on the ballot that I've really considered so far) seems like an obvious yes to me.


I do have some questions about the other props...

1) What is a general obligation bond?

A general obligation bond is one that will be paid by the taxpayer. The other type of municipal bond is a revenue bond, which means that the facility being built is supposed to pay off the bond (e.g. a toll road or a park that charges admission).
 
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