November 2021 Propositions | SARC

On November 2nd, 2021 Texans will have the chance to vote on 8 statewide propositions. Austinites will have the chance to vote on 2 city propositions. You can learn about them here and we encourage you to vote!

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Texas State Propositions

Prop #1
The 2021 ballot will read…
“The constitutional amendment authorizing the professional sports team charitable foundations of organizations sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association or the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association to conduct charitable raffles at rodeo venues.”

Lotteries approved in Texas in 1989 for a State Lottery, Charity bingo events, and Charity raffles

In 2015 the list was increased to add major sports teams; Baseball, Basketball, Hockey, Football and Soccer.

In 2017 they added additional sports leagues, NASCAR and other motor sports, and hosts of PGA events.

This amendment adds Rodeo to the long list.

Prop #2
The ballot will read…
“The constitutional amendment authorizing a county to finance the development or redevelopment of transportation or infrastructure in unproductive, underdeveloped, or blighted areas in the county.”

This is really a change to allow counties to use up to 65% of increasing tax revenue to pay off debt and finance the purchase of land, development and construction of roads and other infrastructure in areas they designate as “blighted” or “underdeveloped”. Terms they get to define. We have already seen where the left is going with “infrastructure.”

Prop #3
The ballot will read…
“The constitutional amendment to prohibit this state or a political subdivision of this state from prohibiting or limiting religious services of religious organizations.”

This is an amendment to the Texas Constitution which guarantees freedom of worship. Reading that section (Section 6) I don’t see where there is a prohibition against doing what CA and other states have done – closing churches during emergencies, when people most need them!

Prop #4
The ballot will read…
“The constitutional amendment changing the eligibility requirements for a justice of the supreme court, a judge of the court of criminal appeals, a justice of a court of appeals, and a district judge.”

This adds new, more stringent qualifications for the mentioned judges. I am all in favor of doing what we can to make sure our justices are well qualified and experienced.  I wish they would make it easier to remove judges that attempt legislation from the bench. But that isn’t covered.

Prop #5
The ballot will read…
“The constitutional amendment providing additional powers to the State Commission on Judicial Conduct with respect to candidates for judicial office.”

Currently the Commission can only handle complaints against judges. This amendment would give them power to investigate candidates for judicial offices, as well. On its face it may help inform the voters about candidate misconduct but I wouldn’t count on it’s not being misused for political purposes.

Prop #6
The ballot will read…
“The constitutional amendment establishing a right for residents of certain facilities to designate an essential caregiver for in-person visitation.”

Why? This is a sneaky thing. The Constitution already guarantees the rights to have visitors during hospital care – this changes the Constitution to add the word “AN” meaning ONE and only ONE caregiver.  It further gives the legislature the ability to provide guidelines for the visitation and policies used by hospitals. On the other side it prevents the governor from saying “no visitors at all” using his emergency powers.

PROP #7
The ballot will read…
“The constitutional amendment to allow the surviving spouse of a person who is disabled to receive a limitation on the school district ad valorem taxes on the spouse’s residence homestead if the spouse is 55 years of age or older at the time of the person’s death.”  -and –

Prop #8
The ballot will read…
“The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of all or part of the market value of the residence homestead of the surviving spouse of a member of the armed services of the United States who is killed or fatally injured in the line of duty.” Ad Val taxes are Property Taxes, by the way. There are currently some 17 different types of people that receive this benefit. It started with the military, then first responders, jailers, then HHS employees, chaplains, Parks and Rec’s employees that “help” with law enforcement.  These amendments will have the effect of property tax abatement on the survivors of those killed “in the line of duty,” not just in combat and extend the benefit to school taxes if the spouse is 55 or older at the time of death.

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City of Austin Propositions

City of Austin Proposition A

The 2021 ballot will read…
Shall a petitioned ordinance be
approved to enhance public safety and
police oversight, transparency and
accountability by adding new chapter
2-16 to establish minimum standards
for the police department to ensure
effective public safety and protect
residents and visitors to Austin, and
prescribing minimal requirements for
achieving the same, at an estimated
cost of $271.5 million – $598.8 million
over five years?

Proposition A sets a mandate for staffing and sets minimum standards that will provide oversight and accountability on both the police department and city leadership. As we look ahead to more city growth, we must make public safety a top priority. Prop A would do exactly that.

City of Austin Proposition B

The 2021 ballot will read…
Shall the City Council be authorized to
convey or lease approximately 9 acres
of parkland currently used as the
Central Maintenance Complex (CMC)
located at 2525 S. Lakeshore Blvd.
through a public bidding process,
where the total value of the bid is
equal to or greater than the appraised
fair market value of CMC, in exchange
for at a minimum: 1) at least 48 acres
of waterfront land contiguous to an
existing City park; and 2) the cost or
construction of a new maintenance
facility for the Parks and Recreation
Department on other city-owned land;
and 3) partial or full funding for the
removal of Fiesta Gardens’ existing
maintenance facility and restoration of
that land to parkland?

Sources:

• State Propositions: Victor Johnson, President – Pflugerville Republican Club
• City of Austin Propositions: Travis County Clerk
• Parkland Swap photo: Austin Monitor

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