RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE 14 PROPOSITIONS ON THE BALLOT

By Editorial Board 

The Austin American Statesman

Proposition 1: Limiting regulations on farming

Proposition 1 would amend the constitution to protect people's and businesses' right to farm, ranch, produce timber or manage wildlife on land they own or lease. It also allows the state or local governments to regulate these practices but only if there is "clear and convincing evidence” that public health and safety are in imminent danger or to prevent danger to animals or crop production, or conserve natural resources

Pro-Con: Supporters such as the Texas Farm Bureau and the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, whose PAC raised over $100,000 in support of the amendment, argue that it would prevent municipal over-regulation and allow the agricultural industry to increase production for an increasingly populous state.

Opponents such as the ASPCA and the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance make credible arguments that Proposition 1 limits the state's ability to set reasonable regulations around food safety, water pollution and animal welfare, allowing large factory farms to operate with minimal accountability while putting smaller family farms at risk. Where is the need for Proposition 1 to effectively deregulate these industries? There's no reason to change the current regulatory landscape that balances the interests of farmers as well as their neighbors and the environment. 

Recommendation: Vote "No" on Proposition 1

Proposition 2: Tax breaks for child care centers

Proposition 2 would allow counties and cities to lower property taxes on child care centers that are owned or rented and have at least 20% of enrolled children receiving subsidized child care. The exemption would have to be for at least 50% of the appraised value.

Pro-Con: Advocates say that lowering taxes on childcare centers decreases their operating expenses, allowing more businesses to open or stay open, providing services to families who depend on their services. The amendment would ease the strain on the beleaguered industry, which is dealing with high overhead and an ability to pay competitive wages.

Recommendation: Vote "Yes"

Proposition 3: Barring an individual wealth tax

Proposition 3 would prohibit an individual wealth or net worth tax — in other words, a tax on the value of one's assets minus liabilities. Texas does not have such a tax.

Pro-Con: Supporters say no one should be penalized for creating wealth and enriching the economy. They also argue that a wealth tax could impose a hardship for taxpayers who have low cash flow.

Why we need an amendment to take a tax that doesn't exist off the table is unexplained. Keeping the option of a wealth tax open is a necessity, should state lawmakers need to explore such a tax to fund needs in the future. 

Recommendation: Vote "No" on Proposition 3

Proposition 4: Authorizing property tax cuts

Proposition 4 would allow the state to implement this year the historic property tax cuts the Legislature approved in July. It achieves this by allowing the state to spend more than $12 billion from the general revenue fund to pay for the cuts. More than $7 billion would be sent to local school districts so they can lower their tax rates, saving homeowners an average of $1,300 a year, according to proponents. An estimated $5.6 billion would be used to pay for boosting the homestead exemption, lopping $100,000 off the value of a home for school tax purposes, up from the current $40,000 exemption.

Pro-Con: Who doesn't welcome a break on their skyrocketing tax bills, especially when Texas property taxes are among the highest in the country? But while we endorse relief for Texans who have been taking it on the chin with soaring school taxes for too long, we also note that this is merely a temporary bandage on a school finance system in Texas that is broken and ill-suited for the state's size and needs. Homeowners bear the brunt of that outdated state system, which increasingly asks local districts to pay more for education. Vote "Yes."

Recommendation: Vote "Yes" on Proposition 4

Proposition 5: Research at Texas public universities

Proposition 5 would expand funding for research grants for Texas public universities. It would rename the National Research University Fund to the Texas University Fund, which provides financial support to emerging Texas research universities to use for research, with the hope of elevating their national prominence and boosting the state economy.

Pro-Con: The University of Texas and Texas A&M university systems would not benefit from this fund as they receive money from the Permanent University Fund.

The Texas University Fund — which would be fed by the interest, dividends and investment earnings of the state's rainy day fund — would receive $100 million for fiscal 2024, and that amount would be adjusted for inflation in future years but capped at 2% growth. Proposition 5 would create a $3.9 billion endowment for research at Texas public universities.

Recommendation: The University of Texas and Texas A&M University are the only nationally recognized research universities in the state and already receive substantial funding for research. The amendment would allow more public universities in Texas to become eligible for research grants, which promote innovation, provide economic opportunities and help attract the brightest minds. 

Recommendation: Vote "Yes" on Proposition 5

Proposition 6:  Funding for water projects

Proposition 6 would create a Texas water fund to provide grants and low-interest loans for badly needed water projects across the state. The Texas Water Development Board would administer the fund, which would start with $1 billion that lawmakers set aside from the state's general revenue fund.

Pro-Con: Proposition 6 would address urgent needs. Aging water pipes leak billions of gallons of water each year, according to the state, and water and wastewater plants in many communities need repairs or replacement. 

Recommendation: Vote "Yes" on Proposition 6

Proposition 7: Funding for electricity plants

This amendment would create a $5 billion state energy fund to provide loans or grants to companies to build or upgrade electricity generating plants.

Pro-Con: This amendment would create a $5 billion state energy fund to provide loans or grants to companies to build or upgrade electricity generating plants. Supporters say this would improve the reliability of the electrical grid and its aging infrastructure, which have been strained by climate disasters and population growth. Taxpayer money from the state's budget surplus would be used for these projects. Opponents note that the fund excludes any solar- or wind-powered projects, even though they have reduced electricity costs and generate almost 40 percent of Texas electricity.

Proposition 7 effectively subsidizes the natural gas industry at the exclusion of solar and wind projects. With this amendment, the state shows its hand that it is wiling to help one player only — natural gas-powered electric plants, which can harm the environment and be more expensive to operate than cleaner solutions. If natural gas-powered plants are needed, they should be able to get their own financing to build. 

Recommendation: Vote "No" on Proposition 7

Proposition 8: Expanding high-speed internet

Proposition 8 would allow for the creation of a $1.5 billion state fund to expand high-speed internet across Texas. The fund would expire in 10 years, though it could be extended by the Legislature for an additional 10 years. 

Pro-Con: Proposition 8 would allow for the creation of a state fund to expand high-speed internet across Texas. A $1.5 billion appropriation from general revenue would launch the fund in fiscal year 2024, according to a Texas Legislative Council analysis. The fund would expire in 2035 unless it is extended by the legislature. Supporters say the state fund would leverage available federal funding to expand internet availability.

Internet access connects us not only to education, but to healthcare and jobs. Especially at election time, the Editorial Board hears about the hardships of rural and other communities without high-speed internet. Some students travel miles to fast-food restaurant parking lots to get a signal to do their homework. Proposition 8 can help alleviate some of those hardships. 

Recommendation: Vote "Yes" on Proposition 8

Proposition 9: Cost-of-living increase for teachers

Proposition 9 authorizes the first permanent cost-of-living adjustments for retired teachers in nearly two decades, as approved by the Legislature earlier this year. It would bring a:

* 2 percent increase for those who retired after Aug. 31, 2013, but before Aug. 31, 2020.
* 4 percent increase for those who retired after Aug. 31, 2001, but before Aug. 31, 2013.
* 6 percent increase for those who retired on or before Aug. 31, 2001.
The amendment proposes an adjustment in annuities to qualifying beneficiaries of the Texas Teacher Retirement System, to be subsidized by a $3.355 billion fund.

Pro-Con: Half of retired school workers in the Texas system receive $2,000 per month or less, and 30 percent receive $1,000 or less. That doesn't even cover rent in cities like Austin. Making a difficult situation worse, more than 90 percent of retired school workers don't get Social Security benefits because most Texas districts don't allow teachers to contribute to the federal program. Add soaring inflation and it’s easy to understand why so many retired Texas educators say they struggle to cover groceries, medicine and other essentials. Proposition 9 helps these retirees in a way that is long overdue. 

Recommendation: Vote "Yes" on Proposition 9

Proposition 10: Tax breaks for medical manufacturers

Proposition 10 would allow the state to exempt medical or biomedical equipment manufacturers from paying property taxes on their inventory and equipment used in the manufacturing process. In the past, Texas passed tax exemptions on a variety of equipment to bolster industry, including agricultural equipment, pollution control equipment and marine oil drilling equipment.

Pro-Con: Proposition 10 would allow the state to give property tax exemptions to medical or biomedical equipment manufacturers. This exemption would also apply to components used in the manufacturing process. In the past, Texas passed tax exemptions on a variety of equipment to bolster industry, including agricultural equipment, pollution control equipment and marine oil drilling equipment. Supporters hope Proposition 10 will incentivize investment within the state and reduce the reliance on supplies shipped from abroad.

Much of the support for Proposition 10 is based on the idea that it will provide incentive for manufacturers to invest in Texas. That's an argument based on conjecture. In reality, in a state without an income tax, getting rid of property taxes on biomedical equipment and manufacturers will hurt local school districts and local government services. And why single out one industry for tax breaks if it puts a heavier burden on other businesses and residents to pay for local schools and services? 

Recommendation" Vote "No" on Proposition 10

Proposition 11: El Paso County parks

Proposition 11 would add El Paso County to the list of counties that allow their conservation reclamation districts to issue bonds to develop or finance parks and recreational facilities. The Texas Constitution was amended in 2003 to give only a select 10 counties (and the Tarrant County Regional Water District) permission to fund these parks in this manner, including Travis, Williamson and Bastrop. 

Pro-Con: Parks and recreational facilities enhance quality of life and benefit health and well-being. Bonds for these projects could only be authorized if voters of the district approve them, ensuring local control. 

Recommendation: Vote "Yes" on Proposition 11

Proposition 12: Abolishing the Galveston County treasurer's office

Proposition 12 would abolish the Galveston County treasurer's office effective Jan. 1. If approved, the county's Commissioners Court would assign the treasurer's duties to individuals in other county offices or would contract the work. The amendment would only be implemented if a majority of statewide voters approve the measure and if voters in Galveston County also approved it. 

Pro-Con: Supporters says there simply isn't enough for the county treasurer to do to keep the office open, and that eliminating it would save Galveston County $450,000. Texas voters should give Galveston County voters the opportunity to decide for themselves. 

Recommendation: Vote "Yes" on Proposition 12

Proposition 13: Retirement age for judges

Proposition 13 would raise the mandatory retirement age for state judges from 75 to 79. It would also allow the Legislature to set a lower retirement age, though not less than 75.

Pro-Con: Supporters argue that people live and work longer than ever before, and so should judges if they are capable and want to serve. Allowing experienced judges to serve longer could result in more stability in the judiciary, they say.

Retired state judges already have the ability to keep working at any age — as visiting judges. At the same time, maintaining a retirement age of 75 helps ensure opportunities for the next generation to join the bench, cultivating a continually strong judiciary. 

Recommendation: Vote "No" on Proposition 13

Proposition 14: $1 billion for state parks

Proposition 14 would take up to $1 billion from the state's budget surplus to create a Centennial Parks Conservation Fund to buy land to create and improve state parks.

Pro-Con: Most land in the state is privately owned. Not only is it scarce, it's getting more expensive. Proposition 14 can be a game-changer for those who cherish the immense beauty and value of state parks and the safeguards they provide for our natural resources and for preserving cultural and historic sites. Initiatives to use taxpayer money for the improvement of parks typically draw opponents who complain that there are more pressing needs to worry about. Proposition 14 will likely bring out those critics.

But no one can dispute that state parks improve our quality of life, serve important needs such as preservation of our environment, and are wildly popular. Want to argue that? Try taking the family out to a treasured state park jewel without a reservation on a gorgeous day.

Recommendation: Vote "Yes" on Proposition 14