Texas Proposition 1 (2009)

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Texas Proposition 1, also known as House Joint Resolution 132, appeared on the November 3, 2009 ballot in Texas as a legislatively-referred constitutional amendment.

Rep. Frank Corte, Jr. co-authored the house bill that would allow a county government to issue bonds to acquire land that is adjacent to military bases. The bill, sponsored by Senator Jeff Wentworth, would authorize city and county financing to buy buffer areas near military installations.[1][2]

The Texas House of Representatives approved the proposed amendment on May 11, 2009 with a vote of 137-3, followed by the Senate on May 27, 2009 with a vote of 31-0.[3]

Election results

Texas Proposition 1 was approved by voters on the night of November 3, 2009. Unofficial election results follow:[4]

Proposition 1
Result Votes Percentage
Approved Yes 578,155 55.19%
No 469,282 44.80%
Total votes 1,047,437 100.00%
Voter turnout 8.08%

Constitutional changes

See also: Amending the Texas Constitution

If Proposition 1 is approved by a simple majority of Texas voters on November 3, it will amend Article 3 of the Texas Constitution by adding a new section, Section 52k, that will say:

The legislature by general law may authorize a municipality or county to issue bonds or notes to finance the acquisition of buffer areas or open spaces adjacent to a military installation for the prevention of encroachment or for the construction of roadways, utilities, or other infrastructure to protect or promote the mission of the military installation. The municipality or county may pledge increases in ad valorem tax revenues imposed in the area by the municipality, county, or other political subdivisions for repayment of the bonds or notes.

Ballot title

End of Fort Bliss Military Installation in El Paso, Texas

The short ballot summary Texas voters saw on their ballot was "Proposing a constitutional amendment relating to the financing, including through tax increment financing, of the acquisition by municipalities and counties of buffer areas or open spaces adjacent to a military installation for certain purposes."[5]

Support

The Naval Air Station Regional Coordination Committee went on record to endorse Proposition 1, arguing that the measure is not an excuse for military bases to remove homes for the benefit of a military base. Paul Paine, chairman of the committee, who is also a former base commander, stated: "I want to be clear: Nobody is saying, 'We want to go after those homes, buy them out and have them moved.’ What we’re trying to do is educate municipalities to think about land use in terms of what that existing or future development means to the base."[6]

Opposition

According to the House Research Organization, a bipartisan research group in the state, opponents of the measure state that Proposition 1 allows local governments to increase taxes. As a result, the increased taxes imposes a burden to property owners. The organization refers to a “buffer zone” that would be acquired if the amendment is passed in the November election. The buffer zone would pave the way for land to go off tax rolls and would stunt the growth of developing areas in the state.[7]

The National Taxpayers Union was opposed to Proposition 1. The organization, as well as other limited government advocates, argued that that this funding mechanism is burdensome to taxpayers and will pave the way for higher taxes. The measure was included in NTU's 2009 General Election Ballot Guide.

Media editorial posititions

Main article: Endorsements of Texas ballot measures, 2009

Editorial boards in support

  • The El Paso Times was in support of Proposition 1. "This amendment would allow local governments to issue bonds or notes for purchase of land adjacent to military installations, with the land to be used in ways to protect or promote the military mission. Care would have to be taken to ensure that governments didn't use this power to unnecessarily raise property taxes, particularly in these tough economic times," said the board.[8]
  • The Star-Telegram editorial board supported the proposition. In an editorial, the board said,"Relations between a military base and its surrounding community can be love-hate, especially when high-performance jets rattle windows during takeoffs or landings...Voter approval would give cities and counties another tool to encourage compatible land use: the ability to issue bonds and notes to buy buffer areas or open spaces adjacent to bases."[9]

Editorial boards opposed

  • The Austin Chronicle was opposed to Proposition 1. "We've had quite enough of state-subsidized militarism (and the Lege didn't even bother to authorize the bonds). Let the bases rub up against the neighborhoods where they live," said the editorial board.[10]

See also

External links

Additional reading

References

  1. ↑ House Research Organization, "Bill Analysis", May 11, 2009
  2. ↑ Fort Worth Star-Telegram, "11 proposed constitutional amendments on the Nov. 3 ballot", October 1, 2009
  3. ↑ Enrolled Version of HJR 132
  4. ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "Election Night Returns"
  5. ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "Official Ballot Language and Order for the Nov.3, 2009", July 28, 2009
  6. ↑ Fort Wort Star-Telegram, "Proposition 1 on Texas ballot would let cities buy land around military bases", October 11, 2009
  7. ↑ Gainesville Daily Register, "11 amendments to Texas Constitution to appear on Nov. 3 ballot", October 7, 2009
  8. ↑ El Paso Times,"Propositions: Appraisal reform on November ballot," October 18, 2009
  9. ↑ Star-Telegram,"Nov. 3 election recommendations," October 16, 2009
  10. ↑ The Austin Chronicle,"The Austin Chronicle' Endorsements," October 16, 2009
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