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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.
This amendment provides a mostly redundant tax deferral for certain agricultural land that conforms with some vaguely defined water conservation goals.
While I’m usually in favor of lower taxes, this bill gives control of our water supply to environmental extremists and takes control away from land-owners. Please vote against this amendment.

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.

This amendment is just cleanup. The federal MOVE act caused Texas to move their filing dates earlier by about 3 weeks. Previously, a candidate from one of these offices could avoid the resign to run issue by filing on the last day of filing. Without this change, many counties will need to hold special elections to fill the vacancies caused by county officials trying to run for higher office. Please vote FOR this amendment.

The constitutional amendment authorizing the governor to grant a pardon to a person who successfully completes a term of deferred adjudication community supervision.

Ok, this is one of those fairness things. If you commit a felony, plead not guilty, they have a trial and you are convicted, then the board of pardons and paroles can recommend that the governor pardon you. And after a pardon, your record is clean.

On the other hand, if you plead guilty and are sentenced to deferred adjudication, and you complete the terms of the court successfully, then you aren’t actually convicted of a felony, but you have to report that you received deferred adjudication, and there is no way to receive a pardon to clear your record.
This amendment imperfectly tries to correct the disparity. It probably needs a bit more work, and some enabling legislation, but it is a good start. Please vote FOR this amendment.

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.

El Paso county wants to join the handful of other counties that has the authority to assess taxes on property owners so that the county can buy and hold “open space”. The comments on the Texas Legislative Council official analysis are bad enough:

Comments by Opponents. The proposed amendment would
provide an opportunity for further taxing authority in El Paso County, a property-poor county. In this current economic climate, government leaders should be focused on sustaining the local economy and generating revenue rather than on creating additional debt. While improving the regional quality of life is laudable, it is irresponsible at this time.
The proposed amendment has been characterized as a way for El Paso County residents to start a conversation regarding the creation of a regional parks district with authority to issue bonds payable from property taxes and the associated benefits, but there has been little study regarding the actual economic impact of such a district. Specific information should have been provided to city and county leaders regarding the financing, leadership, function, and authority of such a district before the amendment was proposed.

The fact is, that the objections above are really part of the best case scenario. As we have seen with the “open space” that has been procured in Travis County, this is merely a way for counties to inflate land prices with artificial scarcity, and to reward developers with sweetheart deals. Say no! to spreading the misery to other counties! Please vote AGAINST.

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.

Texas has money for Textbooks. This money comes primarily from land leases for oil and gas exploration, as well as for grazing rights. The profits from these activities have been invested, and the interest on the investment is distributed by the State Board of Education to schools to buy textbooks. But legislators want to raid this big pile of money for other school funding, and they don’t care whether future generations will have a stable base of textbook funds or not. That’s the purpose of this amendment – to raid the permanent school fund and to undermine the authority of the State Board of Education by allowing other state officers to grab the money.

Stop the money grab. Vote Against this amendment.

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.

This one is complicated, but so is current law. The net result is that local governments can work together more easily.

Currently, when local governments want to collaborate on some project – say a road, or EMS service, or whatever – both governments have to create a bond or other debt instrument, place funds in this bond, then pay out to the common project. These agreements can only last for a single year at a time.

With the amendment, the complex accounting will no longer be required, and it will be easier for cities and counties to collaborate on working for the people, rather than working for the lawyers and accountants, and that’s a good thing. Please vote FOR this amendment.

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.

Do you like trains? How about toll roads? Would you prefer that a county government that wanted to build a toll road or a commuter/light-rail system have to get approval from voters? That’s what this amendment is really about. This would give counties the authority to declare a chunk of land “underdeveloped,” bet that building a trolley that ran past the land would increase the property taxes, and use this projected increase in valuation to authorize bonds to go build their trolley system without voter approval.

I say, “just say no!” to allowing counties to speculate on how wonderful trolley’s and toll-ways will be.

The constitutional amendment providing for the issuance of general obligation bonds of the State of Texas to finance educational loans to students.
Here is another example of evergreen bonding authority for a state agency. In many ways, this one is more dangerous for the state than the Water Development Board evergreen bonds. That is because the rate of default on Student Loans is higher than the rate of default by local governments who would be repaying water development loans. I recommend a “no” vote because it simply hands too much authority to a State Agency that should properly rest in the hands of the Legislature.

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.

This amendment provides for “evergreen” bonds. This allows the state to borrow more whenever they pay off the previous bonds. This might be beneficial as a one-time activity – to allow the state to “refinance” their existing loan at lower interest rates – but it is dangerous as a long-term strategy, as it impinges upon the state debt ceiling without adequate legislative controls.

I believe that a funding source for water projects is useful, but I would prefer an authority be given to the Texas Water Development Board absent the “evergreen” provision.