Thank you so much for writing this article. Two people have sent me the bogus information and I immediately responded (nicely, of course) by sending them this article and website.

Keep up the good work!

Kelley Rouse
N. Richland Hills, TX

OK, I've read the various Pros and Cons of the newly proposed "MORE FAIR" property taxation, collection and distribution process...

...and my most critical question and concern is this:

WHERE were all these good intended political leaders, back when the property tax laws were intitally formulated...and aside from that most critical question and concern is this question:

Where have they all been (i.e., local and state political leadership and representatives), over the past decades upon decades --being state office holders, protecting the state's property taxpayers, regarding our current property taxation system and the established law's FAIRNESS to the individual Texas property owners/taxpayer????..I humble ASK YOU!!!

This very debate brings the entire INTENT & MOTIVE into serious question, as the ole saying goes: if it ain't broken leave it alone...and if it WAS broken, why wasn't it FIXED and CORRECTED in decades PAST, I humble ASK YOU this very pointed question!!!

You see, with past/current good intended political focused DO-Gooders, within the various political circles of our local and state government entities, I really have serious Concern when they begin raising up their heads to INFORM US property taxpayers, just how THEY are NOW seeking to CORRECT the WRONGS of our current TAX LAWS --which directly impact each property owner and taxpayer across our Beautiful Texas Landscape.

And when people start debating this issue, and begin asking serious questions of concern, then here comes the hammering down of any questioners and/or DOUBTERS regrading the concerned: "who, what, when, where, why and how come and why for"...do we NOW NEED SOMETHING that wasn't DEEMED NEEDED or FOUND TO BE NEEDED in the past...years and decades??????, but all of a sudden, THEY NOW SEE THE LIGHT to A MORE FAIRER tax parameter determination and calculating process?

And THIS is WHY I have learned though my taxpaying pocketbook's tax pay out...that it raises serious concern and qustions of they past/current Relibility, Validity, Credibility and authtencity for what really MOTIVATES "change-makers" ....

...as we are NOW having to LIVE with the FEDEARL CHANGE MAKER, presently holding the Oval Office in Washington DC, pushing into print out over THREE TRILLION DOLLARS OF FEDERAL (taxpayer) HELP....as we are also suppose to support and get behind their Good-intended Mission, as good litte taxpaying American Citizens!!!

Thus bringing about the MOST CRITICAL QUESTION of CONCERN, which is --WHO really BENEFITS THE MOST, from these new tax proposal law changes?????

You see, I've lived to be 61 years old as a native YOUNG COUNTY TX Texan, and if you think, for ONE SINGLE MOMENT that I've come to TRUST anyone in public office, you have to be kidding. I do NOT. And furthermore, I have documentation as to WHY I DONT!!! Just use the Internet and research to find whatever you want/need to verify as documented evidence to support your position, either way.

So, what's the truth? That's for YOU to determine, without following blindly behind and in step with any voted into office political person on any level, higher than the local level. And the local level has it's ethical problems, but at least, it is CLOSER to the voters..and thus, we can walk up to their door and knock, to get direct questions answered, if you get my point. The farther away from the tap root, the old tree becomes tapped into OTHER WATERING RESOURCES which directly impacts the WHOLE TREE's viability and well being.

Look here Fellow Tax paying Texans...Politics ALWAYS boils down to the issue ole ISSUE: NEED MORE M-O-N-E-Y --and if any TAXpayer-PAID State/Federal Office-holder(s) --is/are proposing a "Better Way" INSTEAD of the initial change for a better way, first coming from the local grassroots of our own taxpaying local communities, then, it is pure political hype, as politicans come and go....usually WITH our taxpaying moneies, in some way or other, left in their wakes, but still monitarly attached to the state's taxpayers, to have to deal with, in their aftershocks!!!

Simply conduct your own due diligence, due processing within your own due time, and within your own local communities, to double check the good-intended political do-gooders!!! who have NO measure of credible SUCCESS in bringing about a better tomorrow!! If they DID, why, do we need a MORE FAIRER TAX LAW..NOW???..if they were doing their jobs in the past, I humble ask you!!

"Trust" is a critical necessity...and law makers do not have the public's trust. A mere simple Fact!!..which isn't anyone's FAULT to raise up questions of concern regarding their motives while in office or running for office, to serve State or Federal taxpayers.

Other words, do not shoot the messenger of concern and question.

Harold Whiteley
Flower Mound, TX
Southern Denton County, TX
(5th Generation Native Texan)

Mr. Sullivan - Obviously you have never seen a Houston tax statement. If HCAD ..."appraised your home as a home rather than something more expensive"...to quote you, our property taxes would skyrocket MORE than they do each year. In Houston the land is way overvalued and the house is undervalued. If you go to HCAD to protest the appraisal as I do every year (for 20+years--this year the land increased 50% on my property in a downturn market, the same as it did on all property in the neighborhood) and I nor anyone I know have ever yet been able to get the land value lowered, only the Improvements, which were undervalued in the first place.
If most homes in Houston were valued correctly and added to the land value, it would be a tax disaster for property owners. I am not surprised to see a Democrat (Pena) supporting this since they are big believers in more taxes, but it does surprise me to see that what I thought was a conservative organization support it. Can you tell me who put these 3 Props on the ballot and where I am misinterpreting them?

Mr. Harold Whiteley of Flower Mound made some thoughtful comments that should be taken seriously.

These Propositions once approved by the voters become Amendments. Even when passed they are null and void for they are in conflict with the Articles of the Constitution and are unconstitutional. Meaning they can not be enforced as laws if the People of Texas will oppose them by demanding that the Constitution be enforced to the letter of the law as written in the Constitution.
VOTE YES on #1 to keep home from being built against their borders, like at the end of an airport airstrip. #8 to place a VA hospital in the Valley for the 10s of thousands of veterans that have faithfully served our Country. Long over due. We owe them to keep our promise to care for them.
VOTE NO on ALL THE REST:
THEY UNDERMINE YOUR RIGHTS UNDER THE CONSTITUTIONAL. #2, 3 & 5 They guarantee the Central Appraisal Districts to arbitrarily set,raise and inflate property market values, based on current sale prices and not the true market price paid at closing and on the day of possession.
They are estimating a future sale price they think YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO SELL YOUR HOME for--even though it is not for sale.
#9 prevent private ownership and use of their beach front property on the Gulf of Mexico and give the public use of your private property.
#11 you are already protected from Eminent Domain under the Constitution. This will guarantee those entities name in the Proposition shall have the Right of Eminent Domain of your private ownership of your land; not allowed under the Constitution.
My Credentials : Mayor & City Councilman of Missouri City< TX, that read and enforced the Law against improper taxing, development and raising utility rates; Taught Real Estate and Insurance Law for 8 yrs.; A Real Estate Broker for 30 yrs. involved with consulting and commercial property management; Under ground Utility contractor; builder and designer of building, roads, drainage, cost estimator and manufacturing equipment.
Served in the US Army 61'thru 63' and the Texas State Guard as the Adjutant/S-1 Officer with the rank of Major.

Most Proposition / amendments undermine the existing Laws created to protect your freedom, liberties and rights guarantee by the Constitution.
Those proposing these proposition are politicians that serve a PARTY and/or special interest and not the BEST INTEREST of the PEOPLE of TEXAS or the US.
For greater details of explanation please e-mail me
at bgj38@gvtc.com; or call 830-964-3073--I will come and meet with any group.
Bemus Glenn of the Jackson Family
One of the People of Texas

My response to Mr. Jacksaon:

#1) More taxes and eniment domain.

I voted NO

#2) Not enough information. I smell a rat.

I voted NO

#3) What "standards" would these be and who gets to decide? I can see it now. 'This is "commerical" type property according to the new standards.'

I voted NO

#4) Just what universities would get these funds and who decides? I smell kick-backs.

I voted NO

#5) This sounds like gibberish. So if we join a poor district with a rich one, then they can charge a higher rate across both of them? Do we really trust them to go the other way?

I voted NO

#6) This does not even make sense. The way it is written sounds like "Issue bonds on bonds that were already issued." Isn't that like Check Kiting?

I voted NO

#7) I still believe in the Posse Comitatus Act.

I voted NO

#8) As a veteran myself I would be using that hostpial if built. However, who and how is that going to be paid for? Why is the state doing it? It is a federal issue.

I voted NO.

#9) As we know, soil errosion has been taking people's land all of a sudden and without due process your home of 20 years on Crystal Beach becomes property of the state.

I voted NO.

#11) What is not clear is who and what defines what "blight" is. Now all of a sudden your middle class $125,000 home becomes "blight" because someone wants to develop a 125,000,000 strip mall in your area.

I voted NO.

I must say that voting no on all these vaguely worded amendments makes sense, particularly as it get's Texas legislators used to the idea of being told 'NO'! I'm struck by the assertion that we, Texas, needs to build a VA hospital in the valley. It would be much more cost effective, and probably better medically, to establish a fund or program that would allow veterans to seek medical treatment at any state or public healthcare facility. Regardless of where you build a VA hospital, a certain portion of the service community will be inconvenienced to reach said facility. This idea is little more than an attempt by 'a valley politician' to bring more tax dollars to his community and to his cronies in the real estate and construction industries, a 'tax grab' to shore up some political martinets fiefdom. Like it or not, the needs and requirements for caring for our veterans are our solemn duty. Providing some sort of 'veterans care' card that would allow our veterans to seek treatment at 'any healthcare facility' makes more sense than constructing a hospital and a bureaucracy that will burden taxpayers regardless of utilization of the facilities. Further, the problems with tax assessments is that they've always been based on 'political needs' and not reality. Even though the market is tanking, we don't see property taxes decline. It's ridiculous to suggest that 'communities' merge their assessment bureaucracies. Unfair assessments happen because politicians want more money and power. Any amendment that gives government or bureaucracies increased power over citizens should be opposed. Let's start taking back control of our government by teaching our State, County, and Local governments the meaning of the word 'NO'!

The input of the 'commenters' seem more pluasible than the host writer, MQSullivan. [Good try, though.] Re sharing appraisers: One county's appraisers will be overloaded with more work than they can handle now....Who pays?...who benefits?...I don't think it will SAVE $$$ -- and if it does, WHO gets the savings. "All politics is local" The smaller county loses control when handing over anything to another county. Let them take care of their own business. They vote on their own property tax rules/regs. Let them abide by them and pay for them....or merge with another county! [None of this "Robinhood" stuff.]
Re VA Hospitals: I really like the voucher card idea for all Vets to be able to go to ANY hospital in the US....What a NOVEL IDEA!!! Vets get to go to any college/university they wish under the GI Bill, so...what's the problem...?
Re Prop. #11: Anyone who trusts the wording of that, one needs to rethink it [needs their head examined]....I'll probably vote a "Straight NO" ticket. -- cristinwh@netzero.net --Bexar County

This ballot of amendments is a perfect example. If they want to change something there damn sure is a rat buried in there somewhere with wording to make you think they are attempting help you. Since when did anyone I MEAN ANYONE other that a well connected donater get anything, or any protection from the State. Many counties are overtly violating the State Constitution on funding and the Attorney general not only does nothing to stop it, he even approves the violations to appease his donaters. There is nothing but crooks in D.C. and Austin, Texas. PERIOD!!!!

The Texas Constitution with amendments is beginning to look like the federal Tax Code. Amendments, amending amendments, are creating a confusing, conflicting mess of laws that defy understanding for the common citizen. Most of the amendments are unnecessary and are designed to help some narrow special interest and the lawyers. We need to put an end to this madness.