Hey Texas...It's time to VOTE!!!
Early voting has begun and the general voting day is November 3, 2009 for the propositions for the Texas Constitution. The Texas Association of REALTORS has worked hard through the legislature this past session to make sure that the real estate industry and private property rights in Texas are dealt a fair hand. The following are some highlights of the Propositions:
Several measures have been endorsed by the Texas Association of REALTORS which represent significant appraisal reform and protection of private property rights. Please cast your vote FOR Propositions 2, 3, 5, 9 and 11.
Early voting began October 19 and ends October 30. Election day is November 3. Contact your county voter registrar’s office for early Voting locations in your community. Propositions 2, 3, and 5 have fallen victim to a malicious and deliberate misinformation campaign which is meant to prey on the fears of uninformed voters in hopes that they will not actually read the proposals.
Here is what they do:
Proposition 2: Homeowners in Texas are well aware of astronomical increases in appraised values. These increases can be made ever worse when chief appraisers choose to bypass taxing a property as homestead, and base their taxes on the “highest and best use” of the property. Proposition 2 protects homeowners, who happen live in or near commercial areas, by mandating that their residence be appraised only as a residence, regardless of what the highest and best use of the property might be.
Proposition 3: Current law requires that standards and procedures for the appraisal of property to originate in the county were the tax is imposed. As a result property owners are often victimized by a hodgepodge of inconsistent rules and standards throughout the state. This constitutional amendment corrects this problem by simply requiring an appraisal district to follow standard appraisal methods and procedures.
Proposition 5: Appraisal review boards have the responsibility to resolve disputes between property owners and county appraisal districts when the taxable value of a property is being challenged. The property owner is always best served when the review boards are comprised of members who understand the issues and complexities of property valuations. Some rural counties have difficulty finding board members to meet these standards. This constitutional amendment will simply give these counties the option to pool together their qualified applicants to better ensure the property owner that their appraisal appeal is being handled professionally and timely.
Proposition 9: This proposal would amend the Texas Constitution, to establish that the public has an unrestricted right to access and use a public beach, strengthening the state’s long-standing policy which has been around since before Texas was even a state. Texas has one of the strongest coastal access laws in the nation. Putting this language in the Texas Constitution would ensure that the state’s Public Beaches Act is protected from future tampering without the consent of Texas voters. Why do Texas REALTORS care? The Texas Coast is a gem because of its public beaches. Texans cherish having that access and tourists flock to beach communities each year, bringing in tax dollars and economic development which support local communities.
Proposition 11: Both the U.S. and the Texas Constitution authorize the power of eminent domain. This power allows a governmental entity to take private property as long as it is for a “public use” and the owner is adequately compensated. This amendment would narrow the scope under which private property could be taken by eminent domain. It essentially would eliminate the taking of private property for either private economic development (e.g., a shopping mall) or to boost tax revenues. It also provides that the power of eminent domain could be granted only by a two-thirds vote of the Texas Legislature.
If you need additional background materials to share with other Texas REALTORS® and consumers, you can access a layman’s explanation. Don’t believe us? Read the Houston Chronicle’s endorsement of Props 2, 3 and 5 or read Rep. John Otto’s press release regarding this stealth misinformation campaign. You can also read the Texas Legislative Council’s thorough explanation on all 11 proposed constitutional amendments.
Take time and vote for these important issues and be an informed voter!
