Early voting ends Nov. 3, Election Nov. 7 on state constitutional amendments

Burnet voters are reminded today, tomorrow and Friday is the last day for early voting during the current election period.

Early voting is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov.1 and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov.2 and Friday, Nov. 3.

Two locations are open for voters during early voting including, Burnet County AgriLife, 607 N.

Vandeveer, Burnet and; Tech University at Highland Lakes, 806 Steve Hawkins Parkway, Marble Falls.

Early voting began Oct. 23. According to Burnet County Election Administration records, 1,729 residents cast early or mail-in ballots during Oct.23-27, about 4 % of all voters registered by the county.

During Election Day Tuesday, Nov. 7, officials plan to open five locations for voters including, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Burnet County, AgriLife, 607 N. Vandeveer, Burnet; Bertram Library, 170 N. Gabriel, Bertram; Briggs Community Center, 215 Loop 308, Briggs; Granite Shoals Community Center, 1208 N. Phillips Ranch Road, Granite Shoals and; Texas Tech University at Highland Lakes, 806 Steve Hawkins Parkway, Marble Falls.

Final day to receive a mail-in ballot is 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 7 (if the carrier envelope is not postmarked) or no later than 5 p.m. Nov. 8 (if the carrier envelope is postmarked by 7 p.m. at the location of the election on Nov. 7 (unless overseas or military voter deadlines apply).

The County Elections Office is located at 106 W. Washington St. Burnet. Call 512-715-5288 for questions or visit https:// burnetcountyelections. com/.

During the 2023 legislative session, the Texas Legislature proposed 14 amendments to the Texas Constitution providing amendments to consider on the Nov. 7 2023 statewide ballot.

Lawmakers entered the 88th session of the Texas Legislature with a record $32.7 billion state surplus. It is noteworthy that many of the proposed constitutional amendments have funding set aside in the 2024-25 state budget, if approved by voters.

Each proposition is shown below with a brief explanation and comments from the state legislatures from those who supported and opposed the proposition, to give you information to determine how you will vote.

• Proposition 1 “The constitutional amendment protecting the right to engage in farming, ranching, timber production, horticulture, and wildlife management”

Protects the right to engage in agricultural, timber and wildlife management practices on privately owned or leased land, while allowing the Legislature to regulate such practices when necessary for public safety, animal health, crop production or conservation purposes.

Legislative Comments by Supporters

As the state’s population grows and the demand for food increases, it is important to prevent municipal overregulation that could threaten agricultural production.
Can help avoid some of the conflict experienced when suburban expansion encroaches on working farmland or ranchland.
Although there are currently protections for farmers and ranchers in statute, there is no guarantee that future legislatures will keep them.
State agencies would still be able to address serious public health and safety concerns and animal welfare.
The amendment officially recognizes the authority of the state and political subdivisions to protect activities to preserve the state’s natural resources.

Legislative Comments by Opponents

Limiting government’s abilities to set reasonable standards regarding food safety, water pollution, and animal welfare would enable large, industrial factory farms to operate with less accountability.
Requiring that a threat to health and safety be “imminent” before regulation be imposed could hinder the ability for state and local government to regulate agricultural operations.

Proposition 2 “The constitutional amendment authorizing a local option exemption from ad valorem taxation by a county or municipality of all or part of the appraised value of real property used to operate a child-care facility”

Authorizes counties and municipalities to exempt from ad valorem taxation on all or part of the appraised value of real property used for child-care facilities.

Legislative Comments by Supporters

Inflationary costs are making it hard for child-care facilities to stay in business
The high costs associated with operating child-care facilities and the inability to provide competitive wages resulted in a shortage of employees for many child-care facilities.
High property taxes have contributed to the rising cost of child-care.
The property tax savings could free up funds to hire and retain staff and pass down to customers to address child-care affordability.

Legislative Comments by Opponents

None were expressed

Proposition 3 “The constitutional amendment prohibiting the imposition of an individual wealth or net worth tax, including a tax on the difference between the assets and liabilities of an individual or family”

Prohibits the Legislature from imposing a tax on individual wealth or net worth.

Legislative Comments by Supporters

Establishing a ban on wealth tax now will ensure that future legislature cannot impose such a tax without the consent of voters.
Prohibiting a wealth tax will help ensure that Texans know they will not be penalized for working to create wealth.
Wealth tax discourages economic innovation and investment.

Legislative Comments by Opponents

The current legislature cannot anticipate how the needs of the state will change over time, so it is better to let future legislatures decide how to address future needs
The measure is unnecessary because wealth tax has not been proposed in Texas.

Proposition 4 “The constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to establish a temporary limit on the maximum appraised value of real property other than the residence homestead for ad valorem tax purposes to increase the amount of the exemption from ad valorem taxation by a school district applicable to residence homesteads from $40,000 to $100,000 to adjust the amount of the limitation on school districts ad valorem taxes imposed on the residence homesteads of the elderly or disabled to reflect increases in certain exemption amounts; to except certain appropriations to pay for ad valorem tax relief from the constitutional limitation on the rate of growth of appropriations; and to authorize the legislature to provide for a four-year term of office for a member of the board of directors of certain appraisal districts”

Allows the Legislature to limit until December 2026 the maximum appraised value of real property for ad valorem tax purposes to 20% a year for the next 3 years and increases the residence homestead exemption from $40,000 to $100,000, or $110,000 for residents over 65 or who are disabled.

Introduces a 4-year term office for a member of the board of directors of an appraisal district in a county with a population of 75,000 or more with a combination of elected and appointed board members.

Legislative Comments by Supporters

Since Texas taxpayers are responsible for the state surplus, the state should return some of the funds to taxpayers.
At a time when many Texans are struggling to stay in their homes due to rapidly increasing property tax burdens, it is appropriate for the state to dedicate funds to help alleviate this burden.
Increasing the resident homestead exemption to $100,000 will be especially beneficial to owners of modestly priced homes.
Residential and commercial landlords are going to see their property tax burden reduced with the 20% cap for a 3 year period, which may enable landlords to avoid rent increases.
The limit on the increase in appraised value of non-homestead real property will help small business.
By making some positions on an appraisal district’s board of directors elected positions in certain counties, appraisal districts in those counties will be more directly accountable to local taxpayers.

Legislative Comments by Opponents

Increasing the residence homestead exemption by such a large amount could result in a shift of the tax burden from homeowners to business owners, which could result in higher prices for consumers.
The proposed amendment does not go far enough since it does not put the state on a path to eliminating property taxes entirely.
Because the tax compression my only be temporary not much relief is being provided and it needs to be permanent.
By reducing property taxes, public education funding is placed in jeopardy.
The amendment does nothing to provide Texas renters with any direct financial relief.
The state’s historic surplus should not be funneled directly to businesses and the wealthy but to those who are struggling the most.
Those running for election on appraisal district’s board of directors may not be focused enough on the overall business of the board but instead focus too heavily on reducing property taxes.

Proposition 5 “The constitutional amendment relating to the Texas University Fund, which provides funding to certain institutions of higher education to achieve national prominence as major research universities and drive the state economy”

Sets aside a portion of the Economic Stabilization Fund and redesignates existing national research university funds to create the Texas University Fund to support selected higher education institutions in becoming major research universities.

Legislative Comments by Supporters

Provides a sustainable source of funding for high-quality research at universities in Texas to ensure that the future workforce needs of the state are met.
Increased investment in cutting-edge research at universities in Texas is key to the state remaining competitive.
Investing in research at the state level will help attract federal and private research funding and improve the caliber of the state’s research universities.
Previous legislation establishing higher education research funds have been successful in helping universities increase their research capabilities.

Legislative Comments by Opponents

No opposition was expressed during legislative consideration of the proposal.

Proposition 6 “The constitutional amendment creating the Texas water fund to assist in financing water projects in this state”

Authorizes the creation of the Texas Water Fund to finance water projects, to be administered by the Texas Water Development Board.

Legislative Comments by Supporters

Texas needs significant financial investment in water infrastructure and water supply development to address both aging infrastructure and the need for new water supply projects to support Texas’ growing population amid perennial drought conditions that deplete existing water sources.
This amendment would give the Texas Water Development Board flexibility in allocating financial assistance to address issues with existing water infrastructure projects and support new water supply projects.
Small water system in less urban areas of the state do not have the tax base to support large water infrastructure projects.

Legislative Comments by Opponents

The Texas Water Development Board should be able to address the state’s water needs without the creation of new programs.

Proposition 7 “The constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the Texas energy fund to support the construction, maintenance, modernization, and operation of electric generating facilities”

Establishes the Texas Energy Fund to provide loans and grants to support electric generating facilities, to be administered by the Public Utility Commission.

Legislative Comments by Supporters

Additional state funding is needed to increase the reliability of the state’s electric market, particularly regarding dispatchable generation.
Creating the Texas energy fund would enable the Public Utility Commission of Texas to provide loans and grants to finance or incentivize the construction, maintenance, modernization, and operation of electric generating facilities, including associated infrastructure, necessary to ensure the reliability or adequacy of the state’s electric power grid.

Legislative Comments by Opponents

Providing funding to increase the reliability of the Texas grid would be more appropriate through the rate payer system as opposed to providing state subsidies funded by taxpayers.

Proposition 8 “The constitutional amendment creating the broadband infrastructure fund to expand high-speed internet broadband access and assist in the financing of connectivity projects”

Creates the Broadband Infrastructure Fund to expand high-speed internet access, to be administered by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Texas has been allocated $3,3 billion from the Federal Government for Broadband expansion with a focus on rural counties. This amendment provides another $1,5 billion to the Broadband fund from the Texas surplus. The initial $3.3 billion will be made available for grants to build Broadband infrastructure but requires a 25% match by counties and municipalities which is not possible in many cases. The $1.5 billion offered though this amendment may be approved to help offset the 25% match.

Legislative Comments by Supporters

Establishing a fund to support broadband expansion and infrastructure investment would provide resources to close the digital divide in Texas, which in turn could help to improve quality of life and lead to increased economic growth
Without reliable access to broadband internet, millions of Texans are at a disadvantage in seeking employment opportunities and accessing certain educational and health care services that are increasingly going virtual.
By investing state funds in the expansion of broadband infrastructure, the state would be well positioned to draw down funds from the federal funds already allocated which matches state funds on a four-to-one basis.
A state funding source for broadband expansion will provide much-needed flexibility in achieving broadband attainment goals that is missing with federal programs that come with certain added constraints.

Legislative Comments by Opponents

Texas has previously allocated $600 million for broadband purposes, and the state is likely to receive billions of dollars from the federal program for these purposes. Creating a costly new broadband fund with state taxpayer funds is excessive and fiscally irresponsible

Proposition 9 “The constitutional amendment authorizing the 88th legislature to provide a cost-of-living adjustment to certain annuitants of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas”

Authorizes the Legislature to provide cost-of-living adjustments to eligible annuitants of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.

Legislative Comments by Supporters

Because most school districts in Texas do not participate in the federal social security, the annuity from the Teachers Retirement System of Texas (TRS) is the only retirement benefit most retired teachers receive. Without having received a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in nearly 20 years, retired teachers have lost considerable purchasing power with their TRS annuity due to cost increases and high inflation.

Legislative Comments by Opponents

No opposition to this proposed amendment was expressed during legislative consideration

Proposition 10 “The constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation equipment or inventory held by a manufacturer of medical or biomedical products to protect the Texas healthcare network and strengthen our medical supply chain”

Allows the Legislature to exempt equipment or inventory of medical or biomedical manufacturers from property taxation.

Legislative Comments by Supporters

Despite not having a corporate or individual income tax, Texas has a high effective tax rate for medical manufacturers as compared to other states. Taxes on medical and biomedical manufacturing inventory discourage capital investment in and the expansion of this industry in Texas.
Most medical and biomedical manufacturing is located abroad, and the cost to ship medical supplies to the U.S. increased more than 50% in 2021, causing Texas to pay more for vital supplies. Encouraging local manufacturing would eliminate the added shipping costs.
Inflationary pressures and supply chain constraints further contribute to the need to regionalize manufacturing.
Since 2020, Texas has missed opportunities for billions of dollars in private investment for biomedical manufacturing because it lacks tax incentives that other state provides.
The proposed tax exemption would encourage investment in medical and biomedical manufacturing in Texas, which in turn would promote innovation and advancement in medical technologies, strengthen Texas’ medical supply chain and create jobs.

Legislative Comments by Opponents

No opposition was expressed in legislative consideration

Proposition 11” 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 development and maintenance of parks and recreational facilities”

Proposition 12 “The constitutional amendment providing for the abolition of the office of county treasurer in Galveston County”

Proposition 13 “The constitutional amendment to increase the mandatory age of retirement for state justices and judges”

Increases the mandatory retirement age for state justices and judges from 75 to 79.

Legislative comments by Supporters

People are living and working longer and it is appropriate to allow judge and justices to serve beyond the current mandatory retirement age of 75
Increasing the mandatory retirement age for judges and justices will allow experienced and competent public servants to continue to serve and reduce turnover and ensure a more stable judicial system.
Since judges and justices in Texas are elected, any issues with performance of a particular judge of justice can be addressed by the electorate.

Legislative comments by Opponents

No opposition to the proposed amendment was expressed during the legislative consideration.

Proposition 14 “The constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the centennial parks for conservation parks conservation fund to be used for the creation and improvement of state parks”

Establishes the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund for the creation and improvement of state parks.

Legislative comments by Supporters

Establishing a dedicated state fund for the purchase of land to develop new state parks would provide a stable and long-term funding source that will empower the state to protect Texas’ unique natural resources.
This amendment would afford voters the opportunity to ensure that Texans and visitors alike can continue to enjoy the beauty of Texas’ parks for generations to come.
Texas has lower park acreage per capita than many other states, and visitation to Texas’ parks has grown significantly in recent years.

Legislative Comments by Opponents