Early voting starts tomorrow in Texas, and with that, my I present (strictly for entertainment purposes).....Bill's Zesty Guide to the 17 (SEVENTEEN!!!!) Texas Constitutional Amendments…plus the Richardson ISD Bond.
Don't California my Texas they say?? Friends, we are voting on 17 Constitutional Amendments! Can we add one saying no one over the age of 75 can run for office? Oh well…here we go!
Prop 1…create a permanent endowment for Texas Tech Colleges. We need better vocational training, and this is a fair start. Support.
Prop 2…ban on Capital Gains taxes. The first fun one…we don't tax Capital Gains currently, and there are no plans to in the future. This one doesn't really bother me; I assume it will pass bigly. No recommendation.
Prop 3…Bail "reform". This measure seeks to make it harder to get bail in certain violent crime cases. While I am a big proponent of local control (SPOILER ALERT), we've definitely seen cases where people who didn't need bail got it. While a bit of a red meat measure, I'll support it.
Prop 4…Water Fund. Water is a going to a MAJOR issue in the future. This measure funds a proverbial drop in the bucket, but it is a start. Support.
Prop 5…Stop Year End Prop Tax on livestock feed. Wow, talk about a special interest case. But, feed isn't taxed at any stage of the supply chain, from production to consumption, EXCEPT if it is held as inventory at year end. I'm generally against special carveouts, but this one makes sense. Support.
Prop 6…Preemptively ban taxes on financial services. This measure ostensibly is to protect the growing securities trading industry in the Lone Star State. While I can't think of any taxes here I'd support, I'm not generally a fan of tying future hands when nothing is on the table that actually needs voting down. Let future legislatures (and their constituents) deal with it if needed. Decline.
Prop 7…property tax decrease for spouses of military who die of service related causes. I mean, can you really say no….but just remember, every one of these you vote for means your share goes up. No recommendation.
Prop 8…No Death Tax. Yet another preemptive measure. We don't have a Death Tax. We don't plan to have a death tax. Is this measure really necessary? Still, the death, or inheritance if you rather, tax is one of the worst ones out there in my mind. That money has already been subject to numerous taxes. Support.
Prop 9…Decrease the "property tax" of business assets. Ok, here is a REALLY fun one. So, background (and we talked about this some with Prop 5), at 12/31 of each year, businesses have to account for their assets on hand and pay property taxes on them to local municipalities and ISDs. This measure seeks to increase the amount of exempt value a business can claim, thus decreasing their property taxes.
"Bill, this sounds like a no brainer? What's the catch?" Well friends, the catch is that Austin is seeking to limit what your local government, and local school district, can tax. Giving Austin more control over your local community, where your vote matters most. I get that property taxes are high. I get that we want them lower. But is giving Austin MORE power over your community the way to accomplish that? Or is this just another step in consolidating power where we the people have little impact to influence it? Decline.
Prop 10…limit property tax on home destroyed by fire. This seems SUPER DUPY SPECIAL interest, but it also makes sense. If your home burns, paying full rack rate is pretty silly. Support.
Prop 11…raising the property tax exemption on older Texans. This measure is a guided missile on the supposed "don't tax grandma outta her house" issue. But…the valuation on grandma's house is frozen at age 65. Meaning this will be a permanent tax cut with no way to make up for it in the future, thus shifting the burden to those under 65. Decline.
Prop 12…changes to the State Commission on Judicial Conduct. This measure seems pretty minor…the State Commission on Judicial Conduct currently has 6 judges, 2 non-judge attorneys recommended by the state bar, and 5 non-attorney citizens. The proposal is 6 judges and 7 citizens. What gives? Is there a problem that needs addressing? All my cards on the table…I don't trust Austin. Without more evidence, I'm voting no. Decline.
Prop 13…increase the property tax exemption for school taxes. We can basically copy/paste my language from Prop 9 here. Austin is seeking to control more ISD funding, instead of your local district. Austin is promising to make the districts whole. Will they? How much do you know about Tim Dunn and the Wilkes brothers? Decline.
Prop 14…$3B to study dementia and other related elderly mental health concerns. Another fun one. Look, if we lived in a Texas with unlimited money, why not? But we don't. Go talk to your school board rep if you need more info on that. These diseases are awful, no question. But should they be a STATE priority? I don't think so. Decline.
Prop 15…enshrining parental rights. This measure is super brief. And has basically zero financial cost. It changes no current law. It codifies tons and tons of prior case law that say the parents have the right to raise their kids.
So why are we doing this? Per the DMN, Texas would be the first state to have such language in its constitution. So why? Unclear, but as any astute reader has gathered by now, I don't trust Austin. Decline.
Prop 16…only citizens can vote. RED MEAT ALERT!!! Guess what? That is already state and national law. Decline (but honestly, it doesn't matter, but I don't like red meat wins).
Prop 17…no property tax on border enforcement infrastructure. Another super specialized case, but should we really add incremental taxes to a property owner if the feds build a wall on their land? Support.
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RISD BOND!! Let's get local! RISD has a 3 part bond, requiring 3 separate votes. Let's look at them.
Prop A…$1.3B (with a b). This is the primary measure, and the primary part of it is to transition the 6 remaining junior highs (7-8th) into middle schools (6-8th). There are smaller infrastructure upgrades to virtually every other campus in the district. Look, this is pricey. But the moves are necessary, our current buildings are old, and construction costs are only moving in one direction. Support.
Prop B…$54MM. This measure is for general tech improvements across the district. While I am a big supporter of Jonathan Haidt and the minimal tech movement, this is more than just "ipads for kids". Support.
Prop C…$7.4MM. This measure is for improvements to the athletic facilities across the district. I applaud RISD on not trying to compete with our northern burb friends on building temples to sports. These improvements are modest, and many will be enjoyed by the broader community. Support.
Don't California my Texas they say?? Friends, we are voting on 17 Constitutional Amendments! Can we add one saying no one over the age of 75 can run for office? Oh well…here we go!
Prop 1…create a permanent endowment for Texas Tech Colleges. We need better vocational training, and this is a fair start. Support.
Prop 2…ban on Capital Gains taxes. The first fun one…we don't tax Capital Gains currently, and there are no plans to in the future. This one doesn't really bother me; I assume it will pass bigly. No recommendation.
Prop 3…Bail "reform". This measure seeks to make it harder to get bail in certain violent crime cases. While I am a big proponent of local control (SPOILER ALERT), we've definitely seen cases where people who didn't need bail got it. While a bit of a red meat measure, I'll support it.
Prop 4…Water Fund. Water is a going to a MAJOR issue in the future. This measure funds a proverbial drop in the bucket, but it is a start. Support.
Prop 5…Stop Year End Prop Tax on livestock feed. Wow, talk about a special interest case. But, feed isn't taxed at any stage of the supply chain, from production to consumption, EXCEPT if it is held as inventory at year end. I'm generally against special carveouts, but this one makes sense. Support.
Prop 6…Preemptively ban taxes on financial services. This measure ostensibly is to protect the growing securities trading industry in the Lone Star State. While I can't think of any taxes here I'd support, I'm not generally a fan of tying future hands when nothing is on the table that actually needs voting down. Let future legislatures (and their constituents) deal with it if needed. Decline.
Prop 7…property tax decrease for spouses of military who die of service related causes. I mean, can you really say no….but just remember, every one of these you vote for means your share goes up. No recommendation.
Prop 8…No Death Tax. Yet another preemptive measure. We don't have a Death Tax. We don't plan to have a death tax. Is this measure really necessary? Still, the death, or inheritance if you rather, tax is one of the worst ones out there in my mind. That money has already been subject to numerous taxes. Support.
Prop 9…Decrease the "property tax" of business assets. Ok, here is a REALLY fun one. So, background (and we talked about this some with Prop 5), at 12/31 of each year, businesses have to account for their assets on hand and pay property taxes on them to local municipalities and ISDs. This measure seeks to increase the amount of exempt value a business can claim, thus decreasing their property taxes.
"Bill, this sounds like a no brainer? What's the catch?" Well friends, the catch is that Austin is seeking to limit what your local government, and local school district, can tax. Giving Austin more control over your local community, where your vote matters most. I get that property taxes are high. I get that we want them lower. But is giving Austin MORE power over your community the way to accomplish that? Or is this just another step in consolidating power where we the people have little impact to influence it? Decline.
Prop 10…limit property tax on home destroyed by fire. This seems SUPER DUPY SPECIAL interest, but it also makes sense. If your home burns, paying full rack rate is pretty silly. Support.
Prop 11…raising the property tax exemption on older Texans. This measure is a guided missile on the supposed "don't tax grandma outta her house" issue. But…the valuation on grandma's house is frozen at age 65. Meaning this will be a permanent tax cut with no way to make up for it in the future, thus shifting the burden to those under 65. Decline.
Prop 12…changes to the State Commission on Judicial Conduct. This measure seems pretty minor…the State Commission on Judicial Conduct currently has 6 judges, 2 non-judge attorneys recommended by the state bar, and 5 non-attorney citizens. The proposal is 6 judges and 7 citizens. What gives? Is there a problem that needs addressing? All my cards on the table…I don't trust Austin. Without more evidence, I'm voting no. Decline.
Prop 13…increase the property tax exemption for school taxes. We can basically copy/paste my language from Prop 9 here. Austin is seeking to control more ISD funding, instead of your local district. Austin is promising to make the districts whole. Will they? How much do you know about Tim Dunn and the Wilkes brothers? Decline.
Prop 14…$3B to study dementia and other related elderly mental health concerns. Another fun one. Look, if we lived in a Texas with unlimited money, why not? But we don't. Go talk to your school board rep if you need more info on that. These diseases are awful, no question. But should they be a STATE priority? I don't think so. Decline.
Prop 15…enshrining parental rights. This measure is super brief. And has basically zero financial cost. It changes no current law. It codifies tons and tons of prior case law that say the parents have the right to raise their kids.
So why are we doing this? Per the DMN, Texas would be the first state to have such language in its constitution. So why? Unclear, but as any astute reader has gathered by now, I don't trust Austin. Decline.
Prop 16…only citizens can vote. RED MEAT ALERT!!! Guess what? That is already state and national law. Decline (but honestly, it doesn't matter, but I don't like red meat wins).
Prop 17…no property tax on border enforcement infrastructure. Another super specialized case, but should we really add incremental taxes to a property owner if the feds build a wall on their land? Support.
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RISD BOND!! Let's get local! RISD has a 3 part bond, requiring 3 separate votes. Let's look at them.
Prop A…$1.3B (with a b). This is the primary measure, and the primary part of it is to transition the 6 remaining junior highs (7-8th) into middle schools (6-8th). There are smaller infrastructure upgrades to virtually every other campus in the district. Look, this is pricey. But the moves are necessary, our current buildings are old, and construction costs are only moving in one direction. Support.
Prop B…$54MM. This measure is for general tech improvements across the district. While I am a big supporter of Jonathan Haidt and the minimal tech movement, this is more than just "ipads for kids". Support.
Prop C…$7.4MM. This measure is for improvements to the athletic facilities across the district. I applaud RISD on not trying to compete with our northern burb friends on building temples to sports. These improvements are modest, and many will be enjoyed by the broader community. Support.
