30 Days: Proposals on Last Weeks’ Ballots Shout Out Property Tax Reform

March 16, 2018 | Candy Evans | | Property Taxes

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(Photo by iStock)

This year, you will still have 30 days to protest your property taxes, but the starting date comes earlier, April 15. We’ve got stories coming down the pike to get you prepped.

Property taxes remain a huge topic on every homeowner’s mind. When you voted last week (or early), you were asked to respond to some ballot propositions. Twelve were submitted by the State Democratic Executive Committee, ten by the State Republican Executive Committee. You could only vote for the propositions on your party ballot, not both.

Looking at these, you can see the concerns of each party and how very different they are. Both sides touched on housing — the Republicans were strongly united on property tax reform, while the Democrats were united on affordable housing solutions (including high speed internet for all and no discrimination). The Republican ballot proposition has the “bathroom bill” — worded “Should we protect the privacy and safety of women and children in spaces such as bathrooms, locker rooms, and showers in all Texas schools and government buildings?” and the Democratic ballot proposition has the complete opposite: “Should everyone in Texas have the right to a life of dignity and respect, free from discrimination and harassment anywhere, including businesses and public facilities, no matter how they identify, the color of their skin, who they love, socioeconomic status, or from where they come?”

90% of voting Republicans supported that phrase, the “bathroom bill”, while only 68% wanted to abolish abortion.

You can sure tell what the hot buttons are right now. The Republicans want to repeal Obamacare, the Democrats want a universal health care system. If you have ever had a political identity crisis, these props will help define the essence of each partly currently, and maybe help you find who you are. Too bad they couldn’t be merged on the ballots:

2018 Republican Primary Ballot Propositions (99% voting in)

Prop #1 – Texas should replace the property tax system with an appropriate consumption tax equivalen

For: 1055049 or 68%

Against: 500845 or 32%

Prop #2 – PROP.2 – TOLL ROADS APPROVAL

No governmental entity should ever construct or fund construction of toll roads without voter approval.

For: 1372517 or 90%

Against: 154071 or 10%

PROP. 3 – HOUSE SPEAKER VOTE Republicans in the Texas House should select their Speaker nominee by secret ballot in a binding caucus without Democrat influence.

For: 1277401 or 85%

Against: 223892 or 15%

PROP. 4 – SCREENING NEW HIRES. Should require employers to screen new hires through the free E-Verify system to protect jobs for legal workers.

For: 1372125 or 90%

Against: 147981 or 10%

PROP. 5 – SCHOOL CHOICE: Texas families should be empowered to choose from public, private, charter, or homeschool options for their children’s education, using tax credits or exemptions without government constraints or intrusion.

For: 1202004 or 79%

Against: 326236 or 21%

PROP. 6 – PRIVACY PROTECTION
Should we protect the privacy and safety of women and children in spaces such as bathrooms, locker rooms, and showers in all Texas schools and government buildings.

For: 1386587 or 90%

Against: 149907 or 10%

PROP. 7 – ABOLISH ABORTION in Texas

For: 1027876 or 68%

Against 479269 and 32%

PROP. 8 – VOTER FRAUD PUNISHMENT

Fraud should be a felony in Texas to help ensure fair elections.

For: 1460287 or 95%

Against: 80448 or 5%

PROP. 9 – REPEAL OBAMACARE

Texas demands that Congress completely repeal Obamacare.

For: 1327146 or 87%

Against: 199065 or 13%

PROP. 10 – PROPERTY TAX CAP

To slow the growth of property taxes, yearly revenue increases should be capped at 4%, with increases in excess of 4% requiring voter approval.

For: 1418184 or 94%

Against: 92248 6%

PROP. 11 – STADIUM TAX DOLLARS

Tax dollars should not be used to fund the building of stadiums for professional or semi-professional sports teams.

For: 1325486 or 87%

Against: 203184 or 13%

2018 Democratic Primary Ballot Propositions

Prop #1 – Should everyone in Texas have the right to quality public education from pre-k to 12th grade, and affordable college and career training without the burden of crushing student loan debt?

PROP. 1 – PUBLIC EDUCATION

For: 1016576 or 96%

Against: 42212 or 4%

PROP. 2 – REFINANCE STUDENT LOANS

Should everyone in Texas have the right to refinance student loan debt with the Federal Reserve at a 0% interest rate, as relief for the crushing burden of debt and an investment in the next generation of Americans?

For: 986440 or 93%

Against: 69071 or 7%

PROP. 3 – UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE

Should everyone in Texas have a right to healthcare, guaranteed by a universal, quality Medicare-for-all system?

For: 1004450 or 95%

Against: 54998 or 5%

PROP. 4 – ECONOMIC SECURITY

Should everyone in Texas have the right to economic security, where all workers have earned paid family and sick leave and a living wage that respects their hard work?

For: 1008850 or 96%

Against: 44659 or 4%

PROP. 5 – NATIONAL JOBS PROGRAM

Should the Democratic Party promote a national jobs program, with high wage and labor standards, to replace crumbling infrastructure and rebuild hurricane damaged areas, paid for with local, state, and federal bonds financed through the Federal Reserve at low interest with long term maturities?

For: 966222 or 93%

Against: 72193 or 7%

PROP. 6 – RIGHT TO CLEAN AIR, WATER

Should everyone in Texas have the right to clean air, safe water, and a healthy environment?

For: 1040820 or 99%

Against: 15430 or 1%

PROP. 7 – RIGHT TO DIGNITY, RESPECT

Should everyone in Texas have the right to a life of dignity and respect, free from discrimination and harassment anywhere, including businesses and public facilities, no matter how they identify, the color of their skin, who they love, socioeconomic status, or from where they come?

YES: 1019252 or 97%

NO: 31531 or 3%

PROP. 8 – RIGHT TO HOUSING

Should everyone in Texas have the right to affordable and accessible housing and modern utilities including high speed internet, free from any form of discrimination?

For: 956701 or 92%

Against: 85177 or 8%

PROP. 9 – RIGHT TO VOTE

Should every eligible Texan have the right to vote, made easier by automatic voter registration, the option to vote by mail, a state election holiday, and no corporate campaign influence, foreign interference, or illegal gerrymandering?

For: 991232 or 95%

Against: 56981 or 5%

PROP. 10 – FAIR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

Should everyone in Texas have the right to a fair criminal justice system that treats people equally and puts an end to the mass incarceration of young people of color for minor offenses?

For: 1013348 or 97%

Against: 33869 or 3%

PROP. 11 – IMMIGRANT RIGHTS

Should there be a just and fair comprehensive immigration reform solution that includes an earned path to citizenship for law-abiding immigrants and their children, keeps families together, protects DREAMers, and provides workforce solutions for businesses?

For: 991528 or 94%

Against: 58327 or 6%

PROP. 12 – RIGHT TO FAIR TAXATION

Should everyone in Texas have the right to a fair tax system, where all interests (business, corporations, and individuals) pay their share, so that state government meets its obligations?

For: 1009739 or 97%

Against: 35683 or 3%

Posted in Property Taxes