Over the past four months, The Examiner has committed to in-depth examinations of the city of Beaumont’s $264 million bond request to voters, to be decided in the Nov. 4 election. This week, voters will be asked to take to the polls for early voting.
Included on the overall Jefferson County ballot are 17 propositions for the Texas Constitution, Propositions A-E for the Beaumont Special Bond Election, elections for the Jefferson County Emergency Services District No. 1, Bevil Oaks, Port Arthur, Port Neches, Port Neches-Groves Independent School District (ISD), the District Bond election for Port of Port Arthur Navigation and proposition for Jefferson County’s Water Control & Improvement District No. 10.
Early voting starts Oct. 20 and runs until Oct. 31. Election Day is Nov. 4. A copy of the Beaumont ballot comprises the entire C section of this week’s newspaper.
State of Texas Constitutional Amendment breakdowns:
• State of Texas Proposition 1 - will create two specific funds: one to keep a permanent technical school infrastructure running, and another to support education and training for workers. These funds are sold as a means to help pay for the buildings, equipment, and programs at the Texas State Technical College System.
• State of Texas Proposition 2 - would stop taxes from being charged on the increase in value of someone’s property or investments, whether that increase has been earned or only exists on paper, and whether it’s for a person, family, estate, or trust.
• State of Texas Proposition 3 – causes, in some cases, the denial of bail for persons accused of serious felony crimes.
• State of Texas Proposition 4 - some funds collected from sales taxes in Texas will be set aside specifically for water-related projects or needs.
• State of Texas Proposition 5 - allows the government to decide that certain things — specifically, animal feed that someone keeps for selling to customers — are not taxed based on value.
• State of Texas Proposition 6 - stops lawmakers from passing a law that would put a tax on specific businesses involved in buying or selling securities, such as stocks or bonds, or on the relative transactions themselves.
• State of Texas Proposition 7 - allows the government to let certain families of veterans save money on taxes.
• State of Texas Proposition 8 - prohibits the government from charging taxes on estates, property or personal gifts on decendants.
• State of Texas Proposition 9 - allows the government pass a law allowing certain people to pay less property tax on personal items they own, such as equipment or tools used to make money.
• State of Texas Proposition 10 - allows the government to allow property owners to temporarily avoid paying taxes on the value of improvements, such as buildings or upgrades, to their home if those improvements are destroyed by a fire.
• State of Texas Proposition 11 - allows school districts to increase the amount of the value of a person's home that isn't taxed, specifically homes owned by elderly or disabled individuals to make it easier to charge less property tax.
• State of Texas Proposition 12 - revises the constitutional provisions related to judicial oversight and disciplinary processes. It targets the composition and authority of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, clarifies the structure and jurisdiction of the appellate tribunal tasked with reviewing its disciplinary recommendations, and delineates the distribution of authority among these bodies and the Texas Supreme Court. The amendments are sold as a means to streamline the enforcement of sanctions for judicial misconduct, increasing their efficacy and ensuring more robust accountability measures.
• State of Texas Proposition 13 - seeks to alter the constitutional provisions governing homestead exemptions related to school district ad valorem taxes, increasing the maximum assessed value exempted from taxation for primary residences from $100,000 to $140,000.
• State of Texas Proposition 14 - authorizes the creation of the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. Additionally, $3 billion from the state's general revenue will be put aside to establish the fund.
• State of Texas Proposition 15 - focuses on the idea that parental authority is the biggest priority regarding the welfare and personal decisions of their children. This will potentially impact legislation related to education, health care, and other concerns involving minors.
• State of Texas Proposition 16 - clarifies that eligibility to vote in Texas will be contingent upon whether or not the voter is a U.S. citizen.
• State of Texas Proposition 17 - authorizes the legislature to provide an exemption from ad valorem taxation of the amount of the market value of real property located in a county bordering the U.S. and Mexico. This may include installations or constructions intended to enhance border security efforts.
Beaumont bond breakdown:
• Proposition A - $58,162,200, which will fund the acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, and outfitting of fixed assets — namely, improvements and facilities aimed at enhancing the city's streets, sidewalks, and drainage systems. Specific named areas of improvement have been listed as East Lucas Drive, Avenue A, Avenue C, Carroll Street, Sycamore Street, Doucette Avenue, Dollinger Road, Hoover Street, Cottonwood Street, 7th Street, and Gladys Avenue.
• Proposition B - $147,369,424, for the “acquisition, construction, rehabilitation and equipment of permanent improvements and facilities and public safety.” Named potential projects include a new animal care services/adoption center, a new Fire Station No. 4, a new police headquarters, a citywide facilities assessment, and renovations to facilities throughout the city not otherwise listed, a new multi-purpose sports and community facility, public safety technology and infrastructure improvements to be installed within the city, and a new multi-purpose center at Alice Keith Park.
• Proposition C - $37,215,874, for acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, and equipment for various city facilities with an emphasis on public safety and recreational assets. Specifically, funds will be reportedly used to develop and upgrade multiple city parks, as well as additional field improvements, restroom upgrades, fencing, dugout enhancements, bullpen facilities, and other sports amenities for Athletic Complex No. 4.
• Proposition D - $12,498,220, specifically for the acquisition, construction, rehabilitation and equipment for permanent improvements to expand Riverfront Park.
• Proposition E - $8,922,278, dedicated to the acquisition, construction, rehabilitation and equipment for the extension of Pointe Parkway, which spans from Northwest Parkway to State Highway 105.
Also on the ballot:
• Proposition A for Jefferson County’s Emergency Services District No. 1 - includes the adoption of a local sales and use tax less than 1.5% in any location for the district. The same proposition is included on the ballot for Jefferson County’s Emergency Services District No. 5.
• Bevil Oaks Mayor: Cheri Mitchell
• Bevil Oaks Councilmember Ward 1: Bud Merendino
• Bevil Oaks Council Ward 2: Lonnie Clayton
• Bevil Oaks Council Ward 3: Jeff Thibodeaux, Larry D. Jackson and Andrew Pileggi
• Proposition A for the City of Port Arthur’s Special Election - authorizes the city’s Economic Development Corporation to use the sales and use tax imposed under Chapter 504 of the Texas Local Government Code related to certain city projects such as recreation or community facilities, adorable housing, water supply facilities and water conservation programs, new or expanded business enterprises that create or train primary jobs, sports venues and related infrastructure and to undertake any maintenance and operating costs of a facility when legally allowed.
• Port Neches Council Place 1: Heather R. Burton and Mike Beaty
• Port Neches Council Place 2: Adam Anders
• Port Neches-Groves ISD School Board Trustee Place 4: Sarah Hardin, Joshua Gray and Misty Goodridge
• Port Neches-Groves ISD School Board Trustee Place 5: Brandon Cropper
• Proposition A for the Port Neches-Groves ISD Special Election - issuance of bonds up to $75 million sold as a means designated to finance a range of capital projects including the design, construction, renovation, and upgrade of school facilities, as well as the acquisition and equipping of school infrastructure and purchase of new school buses.
• Proposition A for the Port of Port Arthur’s Navigation District - issuance of bonds up to $92 million sold as a means for wharves, docks, warehouse, other storage facilities, terminal facilities or aids to the district which are consistent with or necessary to the operation and/or development of ports or waterways with the district.
• Proposition A for Jefferson County’s Water Control & Improvement District No. 10 - issuance of bonds up to $28.5 million sold as a means to finance the design, construction and equipping of a wastewater treatment plant, wastewater collection system improvements and water distribution system improvements for the district.
For more information, visit jeffersonelections.com.