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(File Photo) Early voting begins Monday, Oct. 20 and goes through Friday, Oct. 31 for the November election. Stephens County voters will vote on a BISD bond as well as 17 constitutional amendments.
Early voting is quickly approaching for the November election, with just over a week away for Stephens County residents to vote on 17 constitutional amendments and a BISD bond.
Early voting in the election will take place from Monday, Oct. 20 through Friday, Oct. 31 in the first floor hallway of the Stephens County Courthouse.
The hours of voting for Monday, Oct. 20 through Friday, Oct. 24 and Monday, Oct. 27 through Wednesday, Oct. 29 will occur from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. The last two days of voting, Thursday Oct. 30 and Friday, Oct. 31 will take place from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.
Election day voting will take place from 7 a.m. through 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4.
The five voting locations are Clear Fork Bank–Tower Room at 101 E. Walker St. (Precinct 1 and Precinct 5), Presbyterian Church–Fellowship Hall at 1601 W. Elliott (Precinct 2), Stephens County Annex Building at 222 N. Baylor (Precinct 3), BISD Support Center–Bus Barn at 907 US Hwy 183 N (Precinct 4).
The bond that residents within the Breckenridge Independent School District is $39 million for the development of a new pre-kindergarten through 5th grade elementary school.
On the ballot, the BISD proposition will read: “This is a property tax increase. The issuance of not to exceed $39,000,000 of bonds by the Breckenridge Independent School District for the design, construction, rehabilitation, renovation, expansion, improvement, acquisition and equipment of school facilities and the necessary sites for school facilities with priority given to a new pre-kindergarten through 5th grade elementary school, and the levying of a tax sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds and the cost of any credit agreements executed in connection with the bonds.”
According to the notice of election document, the estimated maximum annual increase in the amount of taxes on a residence with a $140,000 state homestead exemption and an appraised value of $200,000 to repay the bonds would be $218.44.
There would be no increase in the tax amount for residences with an appraised value of $100,000 under the same state homestead exemption. This would also only be the case if State of Texas Proposition 13 passes, the constitutional amendment to increase the amount of residence homestead taxation by a school district from $100,000 to $140,000. State Proposition 11 would also increase the amount of homestead exemption for residents 65 years of age and older and disabled from $10,000 to $60,000.
The deadline to register to vote was Monday, Oct. 6; you can visit votetexas.gov to check your registration status. The last day to apply for a ballot by mail is Friday, Oct. 24 and applications are available online at co.stephens.tx.us.
A voter must be 65 years of age or older, have a disability that prevents them from appearing at a polling place, be out of county during voting times or be in jail to be eligible for voting by mail.
Constitutional amendment propositions
Proposition 1
The constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the permanent technical institution infrastructure fund and the available workforce education fund to support the capital needs of educational programs offered by the Texas State Technical College System.
Proposition 2
The constitutional amendment prohibiting the imposition of a tax on the realized or unrealized capital gains of an individual, family, estate or trust.
Proposition 3
The constitutional amendment requiring the denial of bail under certain circumstances to persons accused of certain offenses punishable as a felony.
Proposition 4
The constitutional amendment to dedicate a portion of the revenue derived from state sales and use taxes to the Texas water fund and to provide for the allocation and use of that revenue.
Proposition 5
The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation tangible personal property consisting of animal feed held by the owner of the property for sale at retail.
Proposition 6
The constitutional amendment prohibiting the legislature from enacting a law imposing an occupation tax on certain entities that enter into transactions conveying securities or imposing a tax on certain securities transactions.
Proposition 7
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 veteran who died as a result of a condition or disease that is presumed under federal law to have been service-connected.
Proposition 8
The constitutional amendment to prohibit the legislature from imposing death taxes applicable to a decedent's property or the transfer of an estate, inheritance, legacy, succession or gift.
Proposition 9
The constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation a portion of the market value of tangible personal property a person owns that is held or used for the production of income.
Proposition 10
The constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to provide for a temporary exemption from ad valorem taxation of the appraised value of an improvement to a residence homestead that is completely destroyed by a fire.
Proposition 11
The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to increase the amount of the exemption from ad valorem taxation by a school district of the market value of the residence homestead of a person who is elderly or disabled.
Proposition 12
The constitutional amendment regarding the membership of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, the membership of the tribunal to review the commission’s recommendations, and the authority of the commission, the tribunal, and the Texas Supreme Court to more effectively sanction judges and justices for judicial misconduct.
Proposition 13
The constitutional amendment to increase the amount of the exemption of residence homesteads from ad valorem taxation by a school district from $100,000 to $140,000.
Proposition 14
The constitutional amendment providing for the establishment of the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, establishing the Dementia Prevention and Research Fund to provide money for research on and prevention and treatment of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and related disorders in this state, and transferring to that fund $3 billion from state general revenue.
Proposition 15
The constitutional amendment affirming that parents are the primary decision makers for their children.
Proposition 16
The constitutional amendment clarifying that a voter must be a United States citizen.
Proposition 17
The constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of the amount of the market value of real property located in a county that borders the United Mexican States that arises from the installation or construction on the property of border security infrastructure and related improvements.
