Woodlands Propositions
There are three proposition for The Woodlands. All three are bond proposals. As stated elsewhere on this website, I endorse all three "FOR". These are very important for our community, enabling the township to issue bonds to borrow for payment of the specific constructed assets over the lifetime of the assets being constructed. Please refer to the articles under "References and Resources" for additional information and/or access to the township website. Page 2, second column.3 4 5
Texas Constitutional Amendments
Woodlands residents will also vote on state constitutional amendments below. These are my tentative conclusions that I am sharing with all readers. However, I encourage everyone to read the resources provided and whatever else they can find that is "legitimate" and "trusted" to reach their own conclusions.
Proposition 1 :"FOR". Enabling a municipality or county to acquire land adjacent to military property, using bonds. Of course an election for each bond proposal would be required. The legislature would have to draw up the appropriate language.
Proposition 2: "FOR". Valuation of homestead residence solely on residence value, not potential commercial value. This is the fair way of property valuation. It has been a weakness in our valuation system for years. Although it will affect some government coiffures, I believe it is about time we protect homeowners against commercial valuations, which ultimately can drive them out of their homes.
Proposition 3: "AGAINST". Uniform standards and procedures for the appraisal of property for ad valorem tax purposes statewide. I do not think this is needed. Leave valuation up the counties. There are processes for contesting valuations in our county and it should be the same for all counties. .
Proposition 4: "FOR". Establishing the national research university fund to enable emerging research universities in this state to achieve national prominence as major research universities and transferring the balance of the higher education fund to the national research university fund. This would enable additional universities in Texas to participate in major research and become on even par with the traditional large universities - A and M, and UT. Our state has grown well beyond being a two major university state and we should move to the 21st century with the funding of other major institutions. There will be no additional taxation. In our area alone, we expect the University of Houston to graduate to a tier one school if this amendment passes.
Proposition 5: "FOR". Authorizing the legislature to authorize a single board of equalization for two or more adjoining appraisal entities that elect to provide for consolidated equalizations. This applies to The Woodlands. We have two appraisal entities - Harris County and Montgomery County. We may want to consolidate the two for The Woodlands for consistency of valuations. It makes sense when two adjoining entities fall under the same taxation umbrella.
Proposition 6: "FOR". Authorizing the Veterans’ Land Board to issue general obligation bonds in amounts equal to or less than amounts previously authorized. I see no reason not to do this.
Proposition 7: "FOR". Allow an officer or enlisted member of the Texas State Guard or other state militia or military force to hold other civil offices.This is just an oversight when Texas started the guard. There is no reason to exclude any member of the guard from other civil positions.
Proposition 8: "FOR". Authorizing the state to contribute money, property, and other resources for the establishment, maintenance, and operation of veterans hospitals in this state. Many veterans have to travel many miles to get hospital care because of the size of our state and the distribution of veteran hospitals. This enable the state to assist the federal government by contributing resources to the Veterans agency.
Proposition 9: "FOR". to protect the right of the public, individually and collectively, to access and use the public beaches bordering the seaward shore of the Gulf of Mexico. The shore should be open and public. This enables that to happen. Encroachment of water from erosion and has recently caused the loss of public beach access. Beachfront homeowners wish to protect their privacy and keep the public off of what used to be "their" land. This proposition is contested based on "squatter's rights". The open beach act should prevail.
Proposition 10: "AGAINST". Elected members of the governing boards of emergency services districts may serve terms not to exceed four years. Due to the nature of the services, I cannot endorse pushing someone out of control on the basis of number of years. Let that be determined by the election or appointment processes.
Proposition 11: "FOR". prohibit the taking, damaging, or destroying of private property for public use unless the action is for the ownership, use, and enjoyment of the property by the State ... Please refer to the reference on this proposition for the full text of the proposition.1 See the opposition arguments in the reference.
Voting Information
In Texas, early voting can take place for any county-registered voter at any voting location in that county. For example, if you live in Montgomery County and are registered in Montgomery County, you can vote at any of the Montgomery County designated locations in early voting. On the day of election, each registered voter may vote only at their designated precinct location.
Early voting will take place from Monday, October 19, 2009 through
Friday, October 30, 2009. Early voting will not take place on the weekends
unless specified otherwise. From October
19, 2009 through October 24, 2009, early voting locations will be open from 8
a.m. to 5 p.m.; from October 26, 2009 through October 28, 2009, polls will be
open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and October 29, 2009 through October 30, 2009,
polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Montgomery County early voting locations are:
Montgomery County Administration Annex
(Building with County Attorney & District Attorney
Offices)
207 West Phillips – Conroe, Texas 77301
Malcolm Purvis Library
510 Melton Street – Magnolia, Texas 77354
South County Community Building
2235 Lake Robbins Drive – The Woodlands, Texas 77380
North Montgomery County Community Center
600 Gerald Street – Willis, Texas 77378
East County Courthouse Annex
21130 U.S. Highway 59 South – New Caney, Texas 77357
West Montgomery County Annex
19380 Hwy 105 West – Montgomery, Texas 77356
The
Harris County early voting polling location will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Harris County early voting location is:
134 W. Crystal Canyon Circle – The Woodlands, Texas
77389
On
Election Day, there will be nine consolidated Montgomery County polling
locations in The Woodlands Township and one location in Harris County for the
Village of Creekside Park. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The
polling places are:
Precincts 69, 76, 81 - Mitchell Intermediate, 6800 Alden Bridge Drive
Precincts 58, 59, 70 - Bear Branch Recreation Center, 5310 Research Forest Drive
Precincts 56, 75 - Windsor Hills Clubhouse, One Windsor Hills Circle
Precincts 71, 78 - Buckalew Elementary, 4904 W. Alden Bridge Drive
Precincts 3, 61 - The Woodlands High School Ninth Grade Campus, 10010 Branch Crossing Drive
Precincts 31, 62 - Collins Intermediate, 6020 Shadowbend Place
Precincts 4, 48, 49 - Copperwood Apartments, 4407 S. Panther Creek Drive
Precincts 33, 67, 84 - Lamar Elementary, 1300 Many Pines Road
Precincts 32, 45, 79 - Wilkerson Intermediate, 12312 Sawmill Road
Harris County - Creekside Forest Elementary School, 5949 Creekside Forest
References and Resources
1 Analysis of Proposed Constitutional Amendments by the Texas Legislative Council
2 Example Ballot
3Township Bond Election Brochure
4 Woodlands Commentary Bond Update
5 Woodlands Commentary Bond Endorsement
6Texas Online Voting Central - Texas Registration database
7Tommy Willams Guide to Constitutional Amendments
