Port O’Connor Improvement District Report
Wednesday evening, October 9, 2013, was the Town Meeting to discuss the upcoming Election for two Propositions the Board is placing on the upcoming Ballot. The Board unanimously approved the Propositions as they would allow the District to continue to improve the water and sewer to the Community.
The Official Ballot will look like this:
PROPOSITION I
( ) FOR The issuance of $11,000,000 Bonds for Waterworks, Sanitary Sewer, and Drainage Systems and the Levy of Taxes, without limit as to rate or amount
( ) AGAINST in payment of the bonds.
PROPOSITION II
( ) FOR A Sales Tax and Use Tax in Port O’Connor Improvement District at a Rate
( ) AGAINST not to exceed 1.5 Percent (1.5%).
The District is estimating that they would receive in the area of $100,000 per year from the Sales Tax. The funds will be used for normal systems operation and will help to reduce water rates and or taxes necessary for capitol improvements needed.
The $11,000,000 in new bonds is for enlarging, repairing and upgrading the District’s current system and some projects need to be done immediately. The 11 million will be spent in stages over several years.
The District Board is aggressively looking to the future of Port O’Connor and providing water and sewer to all existing and new home owners. We believe that the passing of the Two Propositions on the Ballot this November will assist us in doing that. We ask that you vote “FOR” both Propositions.
Doyle Adams, Board Member
Nine Proposed Amendments to the Texas Constitution
Tuesday, November 5th Election
Proposition 1 (HJR 62) The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of all or part of the market value of the residence homestead of the surviving spouse of a member of the armed services of the United States who is killed in action.
Proposition 2 (HJR 79) The constitutional amendment eliminating an obsolete requirement for a State Medical Education Board and a State Medical Education Fund, neither of which is operational.
Proposition 3 (HJR 133) The constitutional amendment to authorize a political subdivision of this state to extend the number of days that aircraft parts that are exempt from ad valorem taxation due to their location in this state for a temporary period may be located in this state for purposes of qualifying for the tax exemption.”
Proposition 4 (HJR 24) The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of part of the market value of the residence homestead of a partially disabled veteran or the surviving spouse of a partially disabled veteran if the residence homestead was donated to the disabled veteran by a charitable organization.
Proposition 5 (SJR 18) The constitutional amendment to authorize the making of a reverse mortgage loan for the purchase of homestead property and to amend lender disclosures and other requirements in connection with a reverse mortgage loan.
Proposition 6 (SJR 1) The constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas and the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas to assist in the financing of priority projects in the state water plan to ensure the availability of adequate water resources.
Proposition 7 (HJR 87) The constitutional amendment authorizing a home-rule municipality to provide in its charter the procedure to fill a vacancy on its governing body for which the unexpired term is 12 months or less.
Proposition 8 (HJR 147 and SJR 54) The constitutional amendment repealing Section 7, Article IX, Texas Constitution, which relates to the creation of a hospital district in Hidalgo County.
Proposition 9 (SJR 42) The constitutional amendment relating to expanding the types of sanctions that may be assessed against a judge or justice following a formal proceeding instituted by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct.
Voters are reminded that the November 5 election will be the first statewide election with new photo ID requirements in effect for voting in person. Voters ages 65 and older and those with a disability may vote by mail for any election. For more information about voting in Texas, visit: www.votetexas.gov
For more information about the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, including the 1876 Constitution, visit: https://www.tsl.state.tx.us/
Bond Election November 5th
The Calhoun County Independent School District Board of Trustees have called for a $65,000,000 bond election on November 5th.
The major elements of the bond proposal are:
School Safety- $1.3 million
New Schools- $36 million
HVAC Units- $1.4 million
Replace Leaky Roofs- $4 million
Electrical/Lighting- $2.3 million
CHS Renovation- $4 million
CHS Athletics- $6.7 million
Hope/Flex- $477 thousand
Playground, Sports/Gym
(HJM, J/R, Seadrift)- $966 thousand
School Bond will impact the Average Homeowner by $10.65 per month. Senior citizens whose property taxes are frozen would not be affected.
Required Identification for Voting in Person
In 2011, the Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 14 (SB 14) creating a new requirement for voters to show photo identification when voting in person. While pending review within the judicial system, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its opinion in Shelby County v. Holder, which effectively ended all pending litigation. As a result, voters are now required to present an approved form of photo identification in order to vote in all Texas Elections.
Here is a list of the acceptable forms of photo ID:
• Texas driver license issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
• Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS
• Texas personal identification card issued by DPS
• Texas concealed handgun license issued by DPS
• United States military identification card containing the person’s photograph
• United States citizenship certificate containing the person’s photograph
• United States passport
With the exception of the U.S. citizenship certificate, the identification must be current or have expired no more than 60 days before being presented for voter qualification at the polling place.
Procedures for Voting:
When a voter arrives at a polling location, the voter will be asked to present one of the seven (7) acceptable forms of photo ID. Election officials will now be required by State law to determine whether the voter’s name on the identification provided matches the name on the official list of registered voters (“OLRV”). After a voter presents their ID, the election worker will compare it to the OLRV. If the name on the ID matches the name on the list of registered voters, the voter will follow the regular procedures for voting.
If the name does not match exactly but is “substantially similar” to the name on the OLRV, the voter will be permitted to vote as long as the voter signs an affidavit stating that the voter is the same person on the list of registered voters.
If a voter does not have proper identification, the voter will still be permitted to vote provisionally. The voter will have (six) 6 days to present proper identification to the county voter registrar, or the voter’s ballot will be rejected.
Don´t have a photo ID for voting? Election Identification Certificates are available from DPS driver license offices during regular business hours, on Saturdays at select locations, and at EIC mobile stations traveling throughout the state.
For further details, go to: http://votetexas.gov/register-to-vote/need-id
