How did Texas finances go off the track?

There are a multitude of reasons why the State of Texas is in the midst of slashing budgets and laying off teachers. Wick Allison highlights texas welfare queens in April’s D Magazine.

Meanwhile, Texas homeowners continue to pay the third-highest property tax rates in the nation, based on median home value. And that is after the 2006 legislative reform intended to reduce them. (The new, revised, remodeled business franchise tax was supposed to bring in $6.4 billion in 2010. Instead, it totaled only $3.9 billion.) So Texas homeowners carry 39 percent of the tax burden of state government while some businesses—and entire industries—get off scot-free.

I’m all for business development and growth. I’m OK with the notion that government invectives may be required. I am not OK with our legislators not managing the store-house.

How can the forecasts be so far off? How can they give away so much that we can’t pay the bills? How can Texas spend more while cutting taxes? As Allison points out spending has only increased under Republicans by 36 percent. We need leadership and new thinking in Austin (and at city hall, the school offices, in Washington DC).

Read The Welfare Queens of Texas: Homeowners pay high taxes while some favored businesses pay none at all.

No Texas Homestead Exemption Vote on the ballot

Let me repeat, THERE IS NO Texas Homestead Exemption Vote on ballot in May 2009.

I’ve gotten this email more times than I care to count recently:

Please read and pass on to all your Texas email friends as this applies to all voters.

You must vote in May to keep the Homestead tax cap for 65 and over, even if you are not 65 yet. If you are a Texas homeowner then this is important to you. If not, it is important to your friends who are.

I am sending this email to everyone on my email address list that lives in Texas . I want to be sure you are aware of a constitutional amendment that will be on the ballot at the May election. It is an amendment to correct an error made by the lawmakers when they voted for a reduction in school property taxes in 2005.
When the lawmakers voted for a one-third reduction in school property taxes beginning in 2006 and to be completed this year, they forgot about the homestead exemption for senior citizens and people with disabilities. The state constitution caps school property taxes for homeowners 65 years and older and those who are disabled.

However, they DID NOT get the same reduction when the property tax cut for schools was voted on two years ago.
So an amendment is on the May ballot to correct this error.

The problem is that most voters who are younger than 65 or not disabled probably won ‘ t even notice
the amendment or care.

PLEASE get out and vote for this amendment if not for yourself, then for your parents,
grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends. We would really appreciate your getting the word out to all your friends and families to vote for this amendment. The fear is that with a low voter turnout, the amendment could very well not pass.

So, please, please pass the word and VOTE for the constitutional amendment. Early voting will take place April 30 – May 5 from 7 am to 7 pm; May 6 from noon to 6 pm and May 7 – May 8 from7am to 7 pm. Election Day is May 12 from 7 am to 7pm.

First, this email has been going around for some time now. Here is a blog post from last year.

Second, Texas votes on May 9, 2009 for local elections. There are no statewide offices/amendments.

Third, IF there is a constitutional amendment to be voted upon it will be in November 2009.

Please see the Texas Secretary of State “What’s on the ballot?”

There are no state or district elections currently scheduled in 2009. Generally, the legislature will pass resolutions to amend the state constitution in an election to be held in November of odd-numbered years. The Texas Legislature is currently in session and this website will be updated after the legislature has taken final action. Please check with your county elections officer for any local elections scheduled in May of 2009.

Dead birds shutdown Congress Ave in Austin

From 590 KLBJ News Radio Austin:

Congress Avenue between 11th Street and Cesar Chavez downtown is closed this morning as police and firefighters investigate the unusual deaths of about a dozen birds. The birds are lying in the middle of Congress avenue just a few blocks south of the Capitol. The entire street has been blocked off while crews take samples and try to determine what happened.

Yesterday in Plano, I saw a least 7-8 dead grackles in the parking lot at FedEx Kinko’s (US 75 and Plano Parkway). It looked like some punk had shoot them off the electrical lines overhead.

Outside Texas, a Strong Gas Odor Permeates Manhattan.

[Update: MYC Mayor Bloomberg: We are waiting for the gas to pass.]