Texans vote on constitutional amendments

Texas voters cast their ballot Tuesday night, apparently giving the green light to 13 of the 14 proposed amendments, including an increase in the homestead exemption for property taxes, and rejecting an increase in the minimum retirement age of judges across Texas.

With 65% of polling locations across Texas reporting as of 11:09 tonight, unofficial results showed voters were in favor of Proposition 4, which would increase the homestead exemption for property taxes from $40,000 to $100,000. Statewide, 1,697,645 voted in favor and 306,155 against. With 68 of 69 polling places reporting in Hidalgo County, 28,253 voted in favor while 7,160 voted against. With 100% of 44 polling places reporting in Cameron County, the vote was 16,645 in favor and 3,092 against.

Andrew Smith, a UTRGV political science assistant professor, said Proposition 4 will affect all property owners in Texas and could provide a significant property tax relief in the next few years.

“Texas has some of the highest property taxes in the country,” Smith said. “So anything that would increase the homestead tax exemption and … cut property taxes is going to be extremely popular in the state. So, yeah, this is again part of that desire to lower property taxes and just provide relief for ordinary Texans and, in theory, this could do that.”

Proposition 5 would allow universities within the state outside of the University of Texas and Texas A&M systems to access the Texas University Fund. Statewide, 1,258,320 voters cast ballots in favor while 724,375 cast votes against. In Hidalgo County, 25,621 voted in favor while 9,319 voted against. In Cameron County, the vote was 13,989 in favor and 5,432 against.

“Texas is leading the country in higher education,” Smith said. “So, increasing funding for schools like Texas Tech, the University of Houston System and so forth, is something that can lead to more jobs that can lead to more businesses relocating to the state and … potentially more opportunities for people to get a college education.”

Proposition 6 would create the Texas water fund, which would assist in financing water projects in the state. Statewide, 1,582,855 voters cast ballots in favor while 465,060 cast votes against. In Hidalgo County, 28,885 voted in favor while 6,198 voted against. In Cameron County, the vote was 15,965 in favor and 3,536 against.

Smith said the purpose of the proposition is to improve the infrastructure for water, replacing pipes and other outdated pieces of infrastructure.

“Given the drought issues that parts of Texas, such as the Lower Rio Grande Valley, have had, given the dependence on agriculture, anything that can be done to improve access to reliable water is going to be popular,” he said.

Proposition 7 would create the Texas energy fund to support the construction, maintenance, modernization and operation of electric generating facilities. Statewide, 1,344,764 voters cast ballots in favor while 699,303 cast votes against. In Hidalgo County, 24,935 voted in favor while 9,876 voted against. In Cameron County, the vote was 13,632 in favor and 5,855 against.

“The memories of February 2021 still linger in people’s heads,” Smith said, referring to the statewide freeze. “And, so, anything that will create or improve electric generating facilities, that’s something Texas [is] going to support.”

Proposition 8 would create a fund outside of the general revenue administered by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts to expand broadband internet to communities that may not be able to afford access. Statewide, 1,407,851 voters cast ballots in favor while 632,814 cast votes against. In Hidalgo County, 26,501 voted in favor while 8,050 voted against. In Cameron County, the vote was 14,913 in favor and 4,544 against.

Mark Kaswan, a UTRGV political science professor, said Propositions 6 and 8 would have the biggest impact on the quality of life. 

“I can’t tell you how many students I have who tell me they are unable to complete assignments because they don’t have internet access for one reason or another,” Kaswan said. “So, this is no surprise that it would be supported in Cameron County.” 

Although the majority of voters were in favor of Proposition 8, the political science professor said he expects it to take years to actually have an impact.

“Typically, with this kind of thing, agencies are going to have to figure out how to distribute the money,” Kaswan said. “Local entities will have to apply. … It’s going to take quite a while for that to actually happen.”

Proposition 9 would provide bonus checks and cost-of-living raises for retired public school teachers across the state. Statewide, 1,734,907 voters cast ballots in favor while 341,343 cast votes against. In Hidalgo County, 31,465 voted in favor while 4,014 voted against. In Cameron County, the vote was 17,281 in favor and 2,626 against.

“I think it reflects on the one hand a strong feeling that teachers are underpaid in this state,” Kaswan said. “Interestingly enough, one of the things about this, which probably most people didn’t notice, is that it is only for two years.”

If passed, the amendment will expire in September 2025, according to Kaswan.

Proposition 13 would increase the retirement age from 75 to 79 of justices and judges of appellate courts, district courts and criminal courts. It would also raise the minimum retirement age from 70 to 75. Statewide, 1,256,464 voters cast ballots against while 767,617 cast ballots in favor. In Hidalgo County, 14,244 voted in favor while 19,855 voted against. In Cameron County, the vote was 11,602 against and 7,791 in favor.

Kaswan said it was difficult to say why voters were against the proposition but chalks it up to buying into the narrative that some of the people are too old and should not be in office anymore.

“There also may be a sentiment that they need to make room for young, you know, for new people, for young blood to give other people opportunities,” he said.

Proposition 1 would protect the right to engage in farming and ranching. Statewide, 1,674,860 voters cast ballots in favor while 445,194cast votes against. In Hidalgo County, 31,030 voted in favor while 5,212 voted against. In Cameron County, the vote was 16,845 in favor and 2,785 against.

“It is likely to be a benefit not only to the Lower Rio Grande Valley, but the whole state of Texas given that we do have a lot of farms and a lot of agricultural production in the state,” Smith said.

Proposition 2 would give cities and counties the option to lower property taxes for child-care facilities. Statewide, 1,374,473 voters cast ballots in favor while 740,925 cast votes against. In Hidalgo County, 23,503 voted in favor while 11,648 voted against. In Cameron County, the vote was 12,625 in favor and 6,712 against.

“Providing the property tax exemption to child-care facilities could expand the ability of child-care facilities to grow,” Smith said. “[It] would be a boon for working parents, as well as giving younger children an early opportunity to get an education.”

Proposition 3 would prohibit the imposition of an individual wealth or net worth tax, including a tax on the difference between the assets and liabilities of an individual or family. Statewide, 1,445,397 voters cast ballots in favor while 654,981 cast votes against. In Hidalgo County, 22,323 voted in favor while 12,293 voted against. In Cameron County, the vote was 12,800 in favor and 6,452 against.

Smith said Proposition 3 passed because Texans like low taxes.

“The benefit of Proposition 3 is that it will allow the rich in particular, at least the upper-middle class and upper class, to keep more of their money which, in theory, would go back into creating jobs and other parts of benefiting the economy,” he said.

Proposition 10 would provide a tax break to biomedical companies by exempting the value of medical supplies manufactured there from property taxes. Statewide, 1,167,983 voters cast ballots in favor while 940,486 cast votes against. In Hidalgo County, 22,029 voted in favor while 12,201 voted against. In Cameron County, the vote was 12,181 in favor and 7,095 against.

Proposition 14 would establish the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund, allocating $1 billion to Parks and Wildlife. The fund will provide the opportunity to plan and create new state parks while improving existing ones. Statewide, 1,626,177 voters cast ballots in favor while 505,639 cast votes against. In Hidalgo County, 28,082 voted in favor while 6,319 voted against. In Cameron County, the vote was 15,833 in favor and 3,664 against.

In the Edinburg municipal election, incumbent Place 3 Councilmember Johnny Garcia lost to challenger David Salazar by a vote of 3,404 to 3,177.

In the race for the Place 4 seat, incumbent Councilmember David White defeated Gerardo “Gerry” Lozano by a vote of 3,333 to 3,323.

In the municipal court judge’s race, incumbent Hector Bustos Jr. defeated Armando Guerra by a vote of 4,450 to 2,148.

–Rider Copy Editors Isabela Balderas and Rebeca Salinas contributed to this report.