Momentum - Business to Business Online Magazine MOMENTUM October 2017 | Page 15

Taxing Matters By: Cheryl E. Johnson, PCC Galveston Co. Tax Assessor Collector [email protected] THAT is the Question Did you know there is an election November 7th? Will you be one of the 4%, 5% or (maybe if we are lucky) 11% of the voters who will show up to make their opinion known? You certainly should be! Seven amendments to the Texas Constitution (see details below), a County bond election (see those details below as well) and multiple local elections (Galveston ISD board of trustees, MUD 12 and 56 bond elections and [wow] creation of a new ta xing entity called MUD 76 and WCID #1 and #19 are holding ’proposition’ elections. I strongly encourage you to go online today to galvestonvotes.org, type in your precinct number, locate your ballot and find out which of these elections effect you! This article is not about those elections. It is about voter turnout; specifically in November elections. (Primary junkies, stay tuned for turnout in those elections coming in February 2018.) As you can see by the chart, turnout in Constitutional Election years is pathetic! Although it is also pretty pathetic for other years, at least voters come out for Presidential elections (a bit less for Governors). But, unless taxes are involved as they were in 2015, voters tend to ignore elections such as the one coming next month. So, folks, I am here to tell you – DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT! For everyone in Galveston County who can vote in both the Constitutional and County bond – both will impact your purse strings or wallets! The other local elections may as well but you need to do your homework on those! The Constitutional propositions are included below (remember ours is a limiting document, unlike the US Constitution thus you are granting authorities that will not exist without your approval) along with the County bond propositions that will certainly increase your property taxes beginning next year. Pay attention and VOTE! Texas Constitutional Amendments Proposition 1 “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 for less than the market value of the residence homestead and harmonizing certain related provisions of the Texas Constitution.” Proposition 2 “The constitutional amendment to establish a lower amount for expenses that can be charged to a borrower and removing certain authorized lenders to make a home equity loan, changing certain options for the refinancing of home equity loans, changing the threshold for an advance of a home equity line of credit, and allowing home equity loans on agricultural homesteads. Proposition 3 “The constitutional amendment limiting the service of certain officeholders appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate after the expiration of the person’s term of office.” Proposition 4 “The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to require a court to provide notice to the attorney general of a challenge to the constitutionality of a state statute and authorizing the legislature to prescribe a waiting period before the court may enter a judgment holding the statute unconstitutional.” Proposition 5 “The constitutional amendment on professional sports team charitable foundations conducting charitable raffles.” Proposition 6 “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 first responder who is killed or fatally injured in the line of duty.” Proposition 7 “The constitutional amendment relating to legislative authority to permit credit unions and other financial institutions to award prizes by lot to promote savings.” County Bond Proposition A “The issuance of bonds in the amount of $56,000,000 for the construction, maintenance and operation of county roads, including roads within the cities of Bayou Vista, Clear Lake Shores, Dickinson, Friendswood, Galveston, Hitchcock, Jamaica Beach, Kemah, La Marque, League City, Santa Fe, Texas City and Tiki Island and the levying of the tax in payment thereof.” Proposition B “The issuance of bonds in the amount of $18,000,000 for the purpose of purchasing, constructing, reconstructing, improving, or equipping county buildings and the levying of the tax in payment thereof.” Proposition C “The issuance of bonds in the amount of $6,000,000 for flood control purposes and the levying of the tax in payment thereof.” MOMENTUM / October 2017 14