Texans to Vote on Flood Control Funding, Property Tax Breaks in Disaster Areas

The Austin American-Statesman is prepping the public for a big statewide election on November 5, 2019, with a quick rundown of each of ten statewide ballot proposition up for consideration, and an endorsement for each.

Proposition 8, is perhaps the most significant proposal to the interests of Planetizen readers. Prop 8 would help address stormwater infrastructure needs needs, "drawing from the state’s rainy day account to create a $793 million Flood Infrastructure Fund, which the Texas Water Development Board would use to finance projects through grants or low-cost loans," according to an editorial endorsing the proposition. "Drawing a one-time $793 million distribution from the $11 billion-plus rainy day fund so that financially-strapped local governments can address flood control needs is a smart investment," reads the endorsement.

The Statesman also endorses Proposition 3, which would provide temporary property tax relief to homeowners in areas declared a disaster by the governor. "Inspired by the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey, Proposition 3 offers quicker relief to communities and property owners when they need it most," reads the editorial endorsing Proposition 3.

Not inspired by Hurricane Harvey, but nonetheless connected to the state's numerous challenges regarding water, Proposition 2 would "issue $200 million in bonds for water supply and wastewater projects in poor areas across the state." The Statesman has not yet published an endorsement of this proposition, but a news article by Riane Roldan reports the details of the proposition and the cases made by those on either side of the debate.