Decisions on three emergency services districts, local sales tax proposals and state constitutional amendments face voters in Burnet and Llano counties Nov. 3.

Early voting for the constitutional amendments and local elections will run through Oct. 30.

Burnet County conducts early voting at the first floor courtroom in the main Burnet County Courthouse, 220 S. Pierce, in Burnet and in the “all purpose room” at the Marble Falls Courthouse Annex, 810 Steve Hawkins Parkway in Marble Falls. Voting hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays except on Oct. 22 and 29, when the hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Residents may vote at the Llano Library from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays with the exception of Monday Oct. 22, which will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Voting on Election Day (Nov. 3) will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The three new emergency service districts, proposed for the area served by the Granite Shoals Volunteer Fire Department (ESD # 3), the Marble Falls VFD (ESD # 6), and Briggs/Oakalla VFDs (ESD # 8), would provide fire, rescue, and first responder support to the areas through local property taxes.

Emergency service districts can levy and collect no more than 10 cents per $100 property valuation under the Texas Constitution.

A public hearing to discuss the Granite Shoals service district is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Oct. 29 at the Granite Shoals Fire Department on RR 1431.

The Briggs and Oakalla Volunteer Fire Departments began campaigning in May for joint ESD # 8, later sending a ballot item request to the Burnet County Elections Administrator for the November elections.

“(The new district) will improve community fire protection while more fairly distributing the burden of funding the cost across all property owners in the proposed district,” said James A. Woolley, Briggs department member and coordinator of the ESD # 8 petition.

Voters approved ESD’s for Burnet and East Lake Buchanan Volunteer Fire Department service areas in the May elections. Granite Shoals and Marble Falls did not file ESD petitions in time for May 9 balloting because the boundaries of the new districts were not finalized. ESD’s for fire service already exist in Cassie and Bertram and Horseshoe Bay has one that supports emergency medical service.

The cities of Bertram and Horseshoe Bay will also vote on a one-quarter of one percent local sales tax, earmarked for municipal street upkeep and repairs.

Eleven Texas constitutional amendments are also on the ballot.

Amendments include: authorizing city and county financing to buy buffer areas near military installations (Prop. 1), requiring appraisal of residence homesteads based solely on their homestead value (Prop. 2), allowing state enforcement of uniform property appraisal standards and procedures (Prop. 3), establishing the National Research University Fund (Prop. 4), allowing consolidated boards of equalization for appraisal districts (Prop. 5), renewing Veterans’ Land Board bond authority for land and mortgage loans (Prop. 6), allowing members of the Texas State Guard to hold civil office (Prop. 7), authorizing the state to contribute resources to veterans’ hospitals (Prop. 8), establishing a right to use and access public beaches (Prop. 9), allowing board members of emergency services districts to serve four years (Prop. 10), and restricting use of eminent domain on property for public purposes (Prop. 11).

State Sen. Troy Fraser (R-District 24) issued a letter Tuesday in support of propositions 2, 3, and 5, related to property tax appraisal reform.

“These three propositions will protect against runaway residential appraisals, ensure appraisal equity statewide and streamline appraisal district appeal operations,” Fraser wrote. “(The proposals) attempt to make the property tax appraisal system work better for the property owner.”