Texans face two votes on property taxes. Here’s our recommendation on state props and more
Property taxes are top of mind for many Texans as they open their home appraisals and anticipate a much higher bill.
It’s timely, then, that voters can approve two state constitutional amendments Saturday to trim those bills.
Don’t get too excited: The measures are modest. One applies only to certain seniors. The other would reduce some of the increases you’ll see this year and beyond, but it won’t amount to paying less overall, given how quickly property values are rising.
If that’s not enough to get you to the polls, consider how few Texans show up to vote on state propositions and the other items on the ballot — city and school board districts, bond propositions and charter amendments. If you go vote, you’ll have a bigger influence than usual.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tarrant County voters can use any polling place.
Here’s what we recommend on some key questions and races on the ballot:
TEXAS CONSTITUTION
Proposition 1: The wording is a mess that only a lawyer could love. But this proposition would help senior citizens whose property taxes are frozen get in on recent and future school tax cuts. It’s a small amount, estimated at about $110 this year, but every little bit helps. Recommendation: Yes
Proposition 2: This proposal is also a modest effort to ease the blow of property taxes. It would increase the homestead exemption for school taxes from $25,000 to $40,000, meaning less of the value of a home would be taxed. Recommendation: Yes.
FORT WORTH
Bond propositions: The city’s quadrennial request to issue bonds focuses heavily on roads and traffic congestion, particularly in north Fort Worth, home of so much booming growth in recent years. Such projects account for two-thirds of the total ask, which is $560 million across five propositions.
But approving the bonds would also set up other badly needed projects, including a new police facility, two firehouses, a library, park improvements and preservation of open space within the city. The package is sound. Recommendation: Yes on all five propositions, A through E.
Charter amendments: The most noteworthy of proposed revisions to the city’s governing document would dramatically boost pay for the mayor and City Council, aligning it with half of what city department directors make. There’s a case to be made for higher pay — mostly, it could open council service to more people.
But voters rejected a much smaller raise proposal in 2016, and coming back with an increase of more than twice as much is tone deaf, especially as inflation booms.
The remaining propositions are largely technical or clean up legal language. Recommendation: No on prop F, the salary increase, yes on the rest.
City Council District 4: The north and east Fort Worth district’s representative, Cary Moon, left for a state House campaign. We recommend retired businessman Alan Blaylock, whose service on the city’s Crime Control and Prevention District committee gives him a head start.
ARLINGTON
City Council District 6: This at-large district represents the entire city, and we recommend physician Albert Parra as a fresh voice who will bring a data-driven approach to development, crime and other key issues.
City Council District 7: In this district, also elected citywide, we prefer Bowie Hogg. His long service on the Arlington ISD board of trustees gives him important perspective and experience to move seamlessly into city business.
FORT WORTH ISD
District 1: A former trustee, Camille Rodriguez, is looking to return to the board, and voters should relish the experience at a tricky time. Rodriguez will bring a focus on academics and help ask the right questions about hiring the next superintendent.
District 4: Longtime community activist Wallace Bridges has run before, and his involvement in helping students will be valuable in a district where helping Black and Hispanic children compete academically is the highest priority.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREHey, who is behind these endorsements?
Members of the Editorial Board, which serves as the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s institutional voice, decide candidates and positions to recommend to voters. The members of the board are: Cynthia M. Allen, columnist; Steve Coffman, editor and president; Bud Kennedy, columnist; Ryan J. Rusak, opinion editor; and Nicole Russell, opinion writer.
Members of our Community Advisory Board may also participate in candidate interviews and offer their views, but they do not vote on which candidate to recommend.
Read more by clicking the arrow in the upper right.
How does the process work?
The Editorial Board interviews candidates, asking about positions on issues, experience and qualifications, and how they would approach holding the office for which they are running. Board members do additional research on candidates’ backgrounds and the issues at hand. After that, members discuss the candidates and generally aim to arrive at a consensus, though not necessarily unanimity. All members contribute observations and ideas, so the resulting editorials represent the board’s view, not a particular writer.
How do partisanship and ideology factor in?
We’re not tied to one party or the other, and our positions on issues range across the ideological spectrum. We tend to prefer candidates who align with our previously stated positions, but qualifications, temperament and experience are important, too.
Editor’s note: Updated on May 6 to reflect that Saturday is Election Day.
This story was originally published April 25, 2022 at 5:07 AM.