Fourteen state propositions to appear on statewide ballot
(Seguin) — Voters today will be taking a hard look at the future of the state of Texas by deciding on 14 Propositions during today’s Constitutional Amendment Election.
At least two of those Propositions have carried a loud voice here locally. The first involves Proposition 1. If approved, the legislation would limit regulations on farming and ranching plus horticulture, timber and wildlife management.
Hoping voters will say “yes” is Ray Joy Pfannstiel, the newly elected president of the local Farm Bureau board of directors. Pfannstiel says passage of this proposition is critical especially for those farmers and ranchers working in and around municipalities.
“One of the reasons of why this came up in the past is there was several farmers that were farming land within city limits where there were ordinances where they couldn’t do certain things i.e. grass or hay could not be taller than 12 inches and we need hay to be about 3 to 4 ft. before we cut it for hay or harvesting crops — when driving a combine for field work, they are saying no dust. Well, there will always be some dust when you’re harvesting and so if we are told that we can’t harvest our crop, well that’s our livelihood and that then transfers down the road to food and fiber for our population,” said Pfannstiel.
Pfannstiel says this amendment rectifies future requirements for the agriculture industry and simply allows those normal farming activities to continue.
He says this is especially important as the shape of the rural communities in the state continue to change with all of the development.
“Here in Guadalupe County, we are really facing the brunt of it. Right now within all the cities, Seguin, Schertz, Cibolo are all growing and taking on more farm land,” said Pfannsteil.
Local retired teachers and members of the Texas Retired Teachers Association have also been campaigning for Proposition 9. Betty Humphris, the legislative chair of Guadalupe County’s retired school personnel, says supporting this ballot item is critical for retired teachers today and those in the future.
“People do not understand why this has to be a Constitutional Amendment in Texas. What this does, it gives the legislatures the ability to give retired teachers, a COLA (cost-of-living adjustment) without any further votes from the public. So, that’s the first thing. Of course, the main thing, it’s been 2004 since we’ve had an increase and with the cost of living like everyone knows going the way it is — we have people struggling. We actually have a foundation that supports retired personnel that can’t make their mortgage or (cover their) health (bills) or other costs so it’s actually something that has been needed for a long time,” said Humphris.
Humphris says the approved pension increase, if approved, would not only be afforded to teachers but to all retired school district personnel. She says that includes bus drivers, maintenance personnel, custodians, food service and school administrators.
More importantly, saying “yes” would not impact taxpayers.
“There will be no tax increase. This money has already been allocated by both the Senate and the House. TRS has the money. It will not affect taxes at all and that is a big problem that people don’t seem to understand,” said Humphris.
She adds that most retired teachers are not eligible to receive Social Security. Therefore, a TRS (Texas Retirement System) pension, in most case, is their primary source of income.
A summary of other Propositions appearing on the ballot include Prop 2, which is a property tax break for child-care centers; Prop 3 would ban lawmakers from imposing “wealth taxes” without voter approval; Prop 4 include an $18 billion property tax cut which would put a temporary limit on appraised values for non-homestead properties and would increase the homestead exemption on school district taxes; Prop 5 would providing funding to certain institutions so they can receive national prominence as a major research university; Prop 6 would create the Texas Water Fund for future water projects; Prop 7 would create the Texas Energy Fund to support companies who want to upgrade electricity generating plants; Prop 8 would expand high-speed internet to those households who need it; Prop 10 would create tax exemptions for manufacturers of medical and biomedical products; Prop 11 would allow conservation districts in El Paso County to issue bonds to fund the development and maintientence of parks and recreation facilities; Prop 12 would abolish the Galveston County treasurer’s office; Prop 13 would increase the mandatory age of retirement for state justices and judges from 75 to 79 and Prop 14 which would approve $1 billion towards the creation and improvement of state parks.
Election polls will stay open today from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.