Brown County Commissioners ordered a special election on November 5, 2013 in Brown County in which voters will determine the fate of nine proposed constitutional amendments including one which would help fund water infrastructure statewide.
This election will be conducted statewide; however the order is not legally made by the governor but by the individual counties within the state, according to Elections Administrator Suzy Young.
On Monday, Texas Secretary of State John Steen selected the ballot order for the 9 proposed constitutional amendments to be voted on as part of the November 5 election.
“This fall voters will be asked to approve 9 amendments to the Texas Constitution,” said Secretary Steen. “By randomly selecting the order in which the amendments appear, we can help ensure no amendment unfairly benefits from its placement on the ballot.”
The amendments will appear in the following order:
Proposition 1 (HJR 62) 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 in action.
Proposition 2 (HJR 79) The constitutional amendment eliminating an obsolete requirement for a State Medical Education Board and a State Medical Education Fund, neither of which is operational.
Proposition 3 (HJR 133) The constitutional amendment to authorize a political subdivision of this state to extend the number of days that aircraft parts that are exempt from ad valorem taxation due to their location in this state for a temporary period may be located in this state for purposes of qualifying for the tax exemption.”
Proposition 4 (HJR 24) The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of part of the market value of the residence homestead of a partially disabled veteran or the surviving spouse of a partially disabled veteran if the residence homestead was donated to the disabled veteran by a charitable organization.
Proposition 5 (SJR 18) The constitutional amendment to authorize the making of a reverse mortgage loan for the purchase of homestead property and to amend lender disclosures and other requirements in connection with a reverse mortgage loan.
Proposition 6 (SJR 1) The constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas and the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas to assist in the financing of priority projects in the state water plan to ensure the availability of adequate water resources.
Proposition 7 (HJR 87) The constitutional amendment authorizing a home-rule municipality to provide in its charter the procedure to fill a vacancy on its governing body for which the unexpired term is 12 months or less.
Proposition 8 (HJR 147 and SJR 54) The constitutional amendment repealing Section 7, Article IX, Texas Constitution, which relates to the creation of a hospital district in Hidalgo County.
Proposition 9 (SJR 42) The constitutional amendment relating to expanding the types of sanctions that may be assessed against a judge or justice following a formal proceeding instituted by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct.
The November 5 election will be the first statewide election with new photo ID requirements in effect for voting in person.
For more information on photo ID requirements, click here.
In other matters on Wednesday’s agenda of the Brown County Commissioners Court:
*In addition to the order for the special election, Young also received approval of election judges and alternate judges for 2013-2014. According to Young, both the Republican and Democratic parties brought lists of judges to be considered for the term, which begins on September 1, 2013 and will expire on August 31, 2014.
*Commissioners did not enact a burn ban for Brown County.
*Precinct 1 Commissioner Gary Worley received approval of a transfer of ownership of a used water truck from Precinct 3 to Precinct 1 in exchange for $20,000 consideration.
*Renee Howes representing DFC Texas Land, owner of the Feather Bay project and Kings Point Cove Unit I and II, received conditional approval of the Kings Point Cove Unit II final plat. Conditions for approval include several items including:
- A certified letter from Brookesmith Special Utility District stating potable water will be made available to the subdivision in sufficient quantity and quality to meet minimum state requirements on or before December 31, 2014
- A letter from the subdivider stating that it will furnish sewer facilities that meet minimum state standards on or before May 31, 2015.
- The court finds that the extension for delivery of water and sewer service is reasonable and not contrary to the public interest.
- No residence can be occupied without water or sewer services.
The subdivider shall further record in the plat records a statement that each contract from subdivider to purchaser of land will describe how and when water, sewer, electric and gas services will be made available to the subdivision.
- Letters of credit ($850,000 for sewer treatment plant, $241,000 for water services, and $767,000 for road development) to be in favor of Brown County to secure completion of the delivery of water, sewer, and infrastructure will be recorded with the plat, along with copies of the restrictive covenants for the subdivision.
*Bobby Brinson of Air Evac Lifeteam and Josh Howell of Native Air, both air ambulance services, spoke to commissioners offering county employees memberships to each respective company at reduced group rates. Brinson also spoke to the court regarding Air Evac’s history of service and community involvement in Brown County.
* Ross Bradley, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Guardian EMS, spoke to commissioners regarding his company’s community involvement.
