Liberty County voters should know their ballot

Voting for the Tuesday, Nov. 2 General Election begins in person during early voting on Oct. 18, at five voting locations in Liberty County. A typical November constitutional election does not see very many voters, and in this election, there are five local governing districts proposing tax change rates and creation. With anticipated voter interest high, we are treating this as a full-scale election. Oct. 4 is the last day to register to vote for the Nov. 2 Election. Our office administrates elections and tries to make your voting experience as easy and transparent as possible. This is one effort to inform you of what is on the ballot before you cast your vote. Please make sure that you receive the correct ballot before you cast your vote. Clerks will be available in each polling location to assist any voter needs.

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

On the ballot this November for all of Liberty County, are eight Constitutional Propositions that voters will decide across Texas.

Proposition 1 amendment would authorize professional sports team charitable organizations to conduct raffles at rodeo venues. The measure would amend section 47 of Article 3 of the state constitution.

Proposition 2 amendments would authorize a county to issue bonds to fund infrastructure and transportation projects in undeveloped and blighted areas. It would also prohibit counties that issue bonds for such purposes from pledging more than 65% of the increase in ad valorem tax revenues to repay the bonds.

Proposition 3 would amend Article 1 of the Texas constitution by adding a new section to prohibit the state or any political subdivision from enacting a law, rule, order, or proclamation limiting religious services or organizations. Arguments against this amendment cite COVID as one valid reason to suspend religious services; approving this proposition would prevent authorities from banning this type of event even during a worldwide pandemic.

Proposition 4 would change the eligibility requirements for several judicial offices.

Proposition 5 authorizes the Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct to accept and investigate complaints and reports against candidates running for state judicial office.

Proposition 6 would allow residents of nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, or state-supported living centers to designate an essential caregiver that may not be prohibited from visiting the resident, even during a pandemic.

Proposition 7 would amend the Texas Constitution to allow the legislature to extend a homestead tax limit for surviving spouses of disabled individuals as long as the spouse is over 55 years old and resides at home.

Proposition 8 would amend the Texas Constitution to authorize a total residence homestead property tax exemption for a surviving spouse of a member of the armed services “who is killed or fatally injured in the line of duty.”

LC HOSPITAL DISTRICT NO. 1

On the ballot for Dayton and most of the Eastern part of Liberty County, the LC Hospital District #1 has two propositions on the ballot for you to decide,

Proposition A asks for the increase of the maximum rate of annual taxes imposed for hospital purposes to a rate not to exceed 18 cents on each $100 valuation of all taxable property. Also, the LC Hospital District #1 on

Proposition B is asking for the issuance of General Obligation Bonds in the amount not to exceed $43,000,000 to pay for the purchase, construction, repair, and renovation of buildings, the equipping of facilities for hospital purposes, including clinics, and to acquire and operate a mobile emergency medical service and for the costs of issuance of the bonds and the levy of a tax in payment thereof.

ESD NO. 2

For Emergency Service District 2 Voters on the East Side of the county, a special election for adopting a local sales tax not to exceed one and one half of a penny in the district.

LIBERTY ISD

For Liberty ISD voters, you will be ratifying or not the ad valorem tax rate of $1.35131 for the current year and will result in an increase of $0.14% in maintenance and operations tax revenue for the district for the current year as compared to the preceding year.

CLEVELAND ISD

Moving up North, Cleveland ISD Voters will see on the ballot the issuance of $150,000,000.00 of bonds for school facilities and the imposition of a tax sufficient to pay the principal and interest on the bonds.

PLUM CREEK MUNICIPAL DISTRICT

North Liberty County Voters, the Plum Creek Municipal District, is voting on several propositions and bonds.

Proposition A is the confirmation of Plum Creek Management District No. 1A.

Proposition B asks voters to issue $143,900,000 in bonds and the levy of ad valorem taxes sufficient to pay the principal and interest on the bonds.

Proposition C asks voters to issue $215,850,000 in refunding bonds and the levy of ad valorem taxes sufficient to pay the principal and interest on the refunding bonds.

Proposition D is asking to issue $110,150,000 in road bonds.

Proposition E is asking for the issuance of $165,225,000 in refunding bonds.

Proposition F is asking for the issuance of $34,051,000 in parks and recreational facilities bonds.

Proposition G is asking for the issuance of $51,077,250 in refunding bonds.

Proposition H is authorizing or not a sales and use tax in PCMD No 1A at a rate not to exceed (1.5%).

Proposition I is asking the levy of an operation and maintenance tax not to exceed ($1.00) per one hundred dollars of valuation of taxable property.

Proposition J is asking to levy an operation and maintenance tax for parks and recreational facilities not to exceed ten cents per one hundred dollars valuation of taxable property.

Also on the Plum Creek ballot are candidates for this district. They include Hayes Masucci, Kayla Rollins, Mary Dalton, Ashley Rushing, and Laura Samey. You can vote for 5 of these people.

These are the items you will see on your ballot if you live in the jurisdiction boundaries that are proposing these items.

If you believe that you live in one of these districts and your ballot does not have these items to vote for on your ballot, stop and ask a clerk for help so that we can make sure you have the correct ballot according to your voter registration file. If you have questions about where to vote or a sample ballot, please do not hesitate to contact our office at 936-253-8050