Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, House Higher Education Chairman Dan Branch and other state legislators talk about the need to additional Tier One universities in Texas and support for Prop 4 on the ballot (Thomas Costley/KXAN)

Environment Texas is bringing the beach to Austin to support Proposition 9 (Chris Allen/KXAN)

Jenny Redo

Your ballot checklist for TX elections

11 proposed constitutional amendments on ballot

Updated: Tuesday, 03 Nov 2009, 5:06 PM CST
Published : Sunday, 01 Nov 2009, 12:20 PM CST

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Texans will get a chance to weigh in on 11 proposed constitutional amendments on Tuesday. The list includes changes to property appraisals, eminent domain and tier one universities.

The most high-profile amendments include Prop 4, which provides funding to more state schools so they can conduct enough research to qualify as tier one universities. Several politicians, including the Texas Speaker of the House, have thrown their weight behind the amendment, saying it would help boost the state's economy.

Proposition 11, which limits the government's use of eminent domain, would prevent the seizure of private property for economic development or private projects.

 The 11 proposals passed both chambers of the Legislature with a two-thirds vote and must win voter approval to be added to the state constitution. Below is a full list of the propositions:

  • PROPOSITION 1: Authorizes financing methods for municipalities and counties to acquire buffer zones or open spaces next to military bases. The proposal could prevent encroachment next to the base and allow construction of roads, utilities and other infrastructure to promote the mission of a military base.
  • PROPOSITION 2: Allows the Legislature to provide for ad valorem taxation of a residence homestead solely on the basis of the property's value as a residence, not at the potentially higher commercial use value.
  • PROPOSITION 3: Provides for uniform standards and procedures for the appraisal of property for taxation. Texas lacks uniform standards, and proponents say this amendment would ensure that property in diverse parts of the state are valued using the same generally accepted practices.
  • PROPOSITION 4: Establishes a national research university fund to help emerging research universities achieve national prominence as major research universities. Those pushing the proposal say it will provide funding similar to what elevated Texas A&M University and the University of Texas to Tier One status, providing jobs and stature or the state. Others question whether now is the time to spend such money.
  • PROPOSITION 5: Permits the Texas Legislature to allow a single board of equalization for two or more adjoining appraisal entities. That means area appraisal boards can be consolidated if they choose.
  • PROPOSITION 6: Authorizes the Veterans' Land Board to issue general obligation bonds in amounts equal to or less than amounts previously authorized. It would prevent the land board from continually having to seek legislative authorization.
  • PROPOSITION 7: Allows an officer or enlisted member of the Texas State Guard or other state militia or military force to hold other civil offices. This would correct what some say is an oversight in the state constitution.
  • PROPOSITION 8: Authorizes the state to contribute money, property and other resources to establish veterans hospital. It's designed to speed up efforts to open a federal Veterans Administration hospital in the Rio Grande Valley, where residents currently must travel to San Antonio to receive some VA hospital services.
  • PROPOSITION 9: Protects the right of the public to access and use the public beaches bordering the seaward shore of the Gulf of Mexico. This would block private developers from restricting beach access to the public, but some say it could infringe on private property rights.
  • PROPOSITION 10: Limits elected members of the governing boards of emergency services districts to terms no longer than four years.
  • PROPOSITION 11: Prohibits governments from taking private property for private economic development to increase a tax base. It also limits the Legislature's power to grant eminent domain authority to a governmental entity.

While low voter turnout is expected, election officials say that all elections are important.

 

You can find polling locations in Travis County here .
 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Copyright AP Modified, Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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