AUSTIN — Texas on Tuesday approved an increase in the homestead exemption for local school property taxes and a number of other proposals, according to unofficial election reports.
The constitutional amendment that won approval includes funding to buy land for new state parks, fix leaking water pipes, improve broadband infrastructure and promote Tier 1 research universities such as the University of North Texas. ing.
A proposal to give state subsidies to private companies to encourage the construction of additional energy generation capacity was also passed. Supporters hope the measure will prevent another major power outage from Texas' main power grid, as it did in February 2021.
Voters decided on 14 changes to the state constitution proposed by the Legislature.
Five of the approved constitutional amendments ratified the creation of a special fund by Congress.
State Republican leaders included a portion of this year's huge state surplus for a new special purpose fund in a constitutional amendment that would break a two-year budget proposal that breaks spending limits approved by voters in 1978. This is because it allows the bill to be passed.
The school property tax homestead exemption amount will increase from $40,000 to $100,000 below. Proposal 4. Voter approval confirms lawmakers' far-reaching plan to cut $17.6 billion in school property taxes over two years.
Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, said the homeownership tax increase and school property tax rate reduction approved in the bill, which lawmakers also passed, are retroactive and will be reflected in tax bills mailed this fall.
“It's great to see everyone's hard work pay off and people finally get the property tax relief they've always wanted and deserved,” Bettencourt, the bill's author, said in a written statement.
Proposal 9, retired teacher's pension bump, easily won the passage. The constitutional amendment, which narrowly defeated tax cuts as the most popular proposal Tuesday, would approve key parts of Congress' $5 billion plan to support retired educators. This plan also included a one-time payment.
Teachers and other school employees who retired after September 2004 have not had their pension checks increased to offset inflation.
“Many retired educators have spent their careers setting millions of Texas children on the path to success as adults,” said Ovidia Molina, president of the Texas Teachers Association, and Barbara Davis Staley. , are struggling to make a living.” said in a joint statement.
Unlike Social Security recipients, whose benefits automatically increase with inflation, “most educators in Texas are not eligible for Social Security,” Molina and Davis-Staley said. “So for many people, the TRS pension is their only nest egg, and the COLA must be initiated by Congress.”
The constitutional amendment would free up $3.4 billion in one-time cost-of-living adjustments of 2%, 4% and 6% depending on when school district employees retire.
The five amendments that create the special fund are:
Proposal 6 The $1 billion from the supplemental spending bill passed last spring would create the Texas Water Fund to fund various water projects, especially upgraded pipes.
Proposition 8 We will establish a broadband infrastructure fund to expand high-speed internet access and connectivity.
suggestion 14 The Centennial Parks Conservation Fund will be created to use $1 billion included in the current two-year state budget to acquire land for state parks.
Proposal 5 It will create a $3 billion University of Texas Endowment.
State schools that do not participate in the 19th Century Permanent University Fund, such as the UNT System, may also be eligible to receive funding to increase research capacity.
suggestion 7 It would create a Texas Energy Fund to finance new power generation through grants and loans.
Other proposals that won approval in informal elections include:
Suggestion 1This protects the right to farm, ranch, produce timber, or manage wildlife.
Suggestion 2childcare providers will be given preferential treatment in property taxes.
suggestion 3This would prohibit Congress from imposing a wealth tax.
Suggestion 10which would provide biomedical companies with property tax benefits.
Suggestion 11This would allow certain recreational bonds in El Paso County.
suggestion 12which would eliminate the position of Galveston County treasurer.
Voters of the unofficial ballot flatly refused. suggestion 13This would raise the retirement age for state judges and judges from 75 to 79.
The defeat means Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan Hecht, 74, must vacate his seat by the end of next year, giving Gov. Greg Abbott the opportunity to appoint another justice. Become.
In the three constitutional reform elections held since 2019, voters have approved all but one of the 19 different proposals submitted by lawmakers.
The only exception was the defeat in 2019 of a constitutional amendment that would have allowed district judges to hold multiple positions. They lost 65% to 35%.
