Residents of Travis County will soon vote on two propositions and a total of ten proposed state constitutional amendments as part of the 2019 general election.
Here are the two specific propositions related to the city of Austin that are on the ballot for voters to consider:
Proposition A
Proposition A, which is a citizen-led initiative that obtained enough signatures from a petition drive in order to be included on the ballot. It seeks to require a City Council super-majority and voter approval for city-owned land to be used for an entertainment or sports facility. Anyone who votes in favor of this initiative would be in favor of these requirements.
Proposition B
Proposition B is an initiative that calls for a limit on exactly how much the Hotel Occupancy Tax can be earmarked in terms of expanding the Austin Convention Center. This initiative will call for a cap of 34%, as well as requiring the approval of voters for any and all enhancements to the facility that are estimated to cost over $20 million.
In addition, voters will also cast ballots in regards to the following proposed state amendments:
Proposition 1, which would permit elected municipal judges to simultaneously serve in more than one city. At the present time, municipal judges that have been appointed are the only ones permitted to do this.
Proposition 2, which would permit the Texas Water Development Board to be able to issue bonds of up to $200 million as a way to fund sewer and water projects in areas that are considered to be economically distressed.
Proposition 3, which would permit the state Legislature to temporarily exempt from property tax properties that have been damaged thanks to natural disasters. Future rules determined by lawmakers will be what bases this.
Proposition 4, which would prevent the state of Texas from either collecting or imposing any kind of individual income tax.
Proposition 5, which would appropriate sale taxes on sporting goods to the state Parks and Wildlife Department and Texas Historical Commission automatically. This would help to provide more dedicated funding for both historical sites and parks.
Proposition 6, which would extend the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, created by an amendment passed in 2007.
Proposition 7, which would permit the release of approximately $600 million of Permanent School Fund proceeds. This money would be distributed to schools on an annual basis and double the current constitutional maximum that’s permitted.
Proposition 8, which would help to create a fund for flood infrastructure as part of the Texas Water Development Board and used to help with financing local projects.
Proposition 9, which would allow the state Legislature to exempt any and all precious metals currently held within a state depository from property taxes.
Proposition 10, which would permit police dogs to be transferred to their handlers or other individuals at absolutely no cost. Due to these types of service animals being considered public property, no law enforcement agency is permitted to give them away to a handler.
Below is the sample ballot, which quotes verbatim the aforementioned propositions:
“State of Texas Proposition 1: The constitutional amendment permitting a person to hold more than one office as a municipal judge at the same time.”
“State of Texas Proposition 2: The constitutional amendment providing for the issuance of additional general obligation bonds by the Texas Water Development Board in an amount not to exceed $200 million to provide financial assistance for the development of certain projects in economically distressed areas.”
“State of Texas Proposition 3: The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for a temporary exemption from ad valorem taxation of a portion of the appraised value of a certain property damaged by a disaster.”
“State of Texas Proposition 4: The constitutional amendment prohibiting the imposition of an individual income tax, including a tax on an individual’s share of partnership and unincorporated association income.”
“State of Texas Proposition 5: The constitutional amendment dedicating the revenue received from the existing state sales and use taxes that are imposed on sporting goods to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Historical Commission to protect Texas’ natural areas, water quality, and history by acquiring, managing, and improving state and local parks and historic sites while not increasing the rate of the state sales and use taxes.”
“State of Texas Proposition 6: The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to increase by $3 billion the maximum bond amount authorized for the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas.”
“State of Texas Proposition 7: The constitutional amendment allowing increased distributions to the available school fund.”
“State of Texas Proposition 8: The constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the flood infrastructure fund to assist in the financing of drainage, flood mitigation, and flood control projects.”
“State of Texas Proposition 9: The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation precious metal held in a precious metal depository located in this state.”
“State of Texas Proposition 10: The constitutional amendment to allow the transfer of a law enforcement animal to a qualified caretaker in certain circumstances.”
“City of Austin Proposition A: Shall a city ordinance be adopted that requires that a sale, lease, conveyance, mortgage, or other alienation of City-owned land for any existing or future youth, recreational, or professional sports facility or any existing or future entertainment facility be approved by a supermajority vote of council (9 of 11 members) and also be approved by the voters at an election for which the City must pay; requires that any site development permits and variances related thereto be approved by a supermajority vote of council (9 of 11 members); requires that site development permits and variances related thereto be approved by the voters at an election for which the City must pay, if the sale, lease, conveyance, mortgage, or other alienation of City-owned land for the facility has not already obtained voter approval; requires that the facility post payment and performance bonds and pay ad valorem taxes, or payments equal to the amount of ad valorem taxes; and requires that all information concerning such sale, lease, conveyance, mortgage, or other alienation shall be disclosed to the public?”
“City of Austin Proposition B: Shall an ordinance be adopted that prioritizes the use of Austin’s Hotel Occupancy Tax revenue by continuing the City practice to spend 15% of the Austin Hotel Occupancy Tax revenue on cultural arts and 15% on historic preservation, limiting the City’s spending to construct, operate, maintain, or promote the Austin Convention Center to 34% of Austin’s Hotel Occupancy Tax revenue, and requiring all remaining Hotel Occupancy Tax revenue to support and enhance Austin’s Cultural Tourism Industry to the potential exclusion of other allowable uses under the Tax code; and requires the City to obtain voter approval and public oversight for convention-center improvement and expansion costing more than $20,000,000?”
Click here for election results.
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