This year, you will still have 30 days to protest your property taxes, but the starting date comes earlier, April 15. We’ve got stories coming down the pike to get you prepped.
Property taxes remain a huge topic on every homeowner’s mind. When you voted last week (or early), you were asked to respond to some ballot propositions. Twelve were submitted by the State Democratic Executive Committee, ten by the State Republican Executive Committee. You could only vote for the propositions on your party ballot, not both.
Looking at these, you can see the concerns of each party and how very different they are. Both sides touched on housing — the Republicans were strongly united on property tax reform, while the Democrats were united on affordable housing solutions (including high speed internet for all and no discrimination). The Republican ballot proposition has the “bathroom bill” — worded “Should we protect the privacy and safety of women and children in spaces such as bathrooms, locker rooms, and showers in all Texas schools and government buildings?” and the Democratic ballot proposition has the complete opposite: “Should everyone in Texas have the right to a life of dignity and respect, free from discrimination and harassment anywhere, including businesses and public facilities, no matter how they identify, the color of their skin, who they love, socioeconomic status, or from where they come?”
90% of voting Republicans supported that phrase, the “bathroom bill”, while only 68% wanted to abolish abortion.
You can sure tell what the hot buttons are right now. The Republicans want to repeal Obamacare, the Democrats want a universal health care system. If you have ever had a political identity crisis, these props will help define the essence of each partly currently, and maybe help you find who you are. Too bad they couldn’t be merged on the ballots:
Prop #1 – Texas should replace the property tax system with an appropriate consumption tax equivalen
Texas demands that Congress completely repeal Obamacare.
For: 1327146 or 87%
To slow the growth of property taxes, yearly revenue increases should be capped at 4%, with increases in excess of 4% requiring voter approval.
Prop #1 – Should everyone in Texas have the right to quality public education from pre-k to 12th grade, and affordable college and career training without the burden of crushing student loan debt?
Should everyone in Texas have a right to healthcare, guaranteed by a universal, quality Medicare-for-all system?
PROP. 5 – NATIONAL JOBS PROGRAM
Should the Democratic Party promote a national jobs program, with high wage and labor standards, to replace crumbling infrastructure and rebuild hurricane damaged areas, paid for with local, state, and federal bonds financed through the Federal Reserve at low interest with long term maturities?
PROP. 7 – RIGHT TO DIGNITY, RESPECT
Should everyone in Texas have the right to a life of dignity and respect, free from discrimination and harassment anywhere, including businesses and public facilities, no matter how they identify, the color of their skin, who they love, socioeconomic status, or from where they come?
Should everyone in Texas have the right to affordable and accessible housing and modern utilities including high speed internet, free from any form of discrimination?
Should every eligible Texan have the right to vote, made easier by automatic voter registration, the option to vote by mail, a state election holiday, and no corporate campaign influence, foreign interference, or illegal gerrymandering?
PROP. 10 – FAIR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
Should everyone in Texas have the right to a fair criminal justice system that treats people equally and puts an end to the mass incarceration of young people of color for minor offenses?
Should there be a just and fair comprehensive immigration reform solution that includes an earned path to citizenship for law-abiding immigrants and their children, keeps families together, protects DREAMers, and provides workforce solutions for businesses?
PROP. 12 – RIGHT TO FAIR TAXATION
Should everyone in Texas have the right to a fair tax system, where all interests (business, corporations, and individuals) pay their share, so that state government meets its obligations?
For: 1009739 or 97%
