Statewide Propositions Affect Local Decisions

In November, Texas voters will consider 17 constitutional amendments including billions of dollars in property tax cuts for homeowners and businesses. Earlier this year, a majority of the state Legislature passed the joint resolutions calling for the constitutional amendment elections, along with the state’s budget for the next two years, which has $51 billion in property tax cuts that have already caused budget issues for Terry County, the cities in the county and the school districts. Texas lawmakers have used multibillion-dollar budget surpluses, the result of inflation and temporary federal stimulus dollars during the pandemic, to pay for tax cuts in recent years. Proponents of tax cuts and bans have said they will maintain Texas as a competitive, business-friendly state and contribute to economic growth.