The Republican Liberty Caucus of Texas Recommendations

Early Voting – October 23^rd – November 3^rd,  2023

Election Day – November 7^th, 2023

This is a non-partisan election, it’s crucial for taxpayers to unite against entrenched corporatism and the growth of more government, putting aside political differences to make a collective stand for fiscal responsibility.  The Republican Liberty Caucus works to restore liberty, not restrict it; shrink government, not expand it; reduce taxes, not raise them; promote free-market competition, not entrenched corporatism; promote the freedom and independence of citizens, not the interference of government in their lives; and observe the limited- enumerated powers of our constitution, not ignore them.

Several of these ballot propositions seek to increase funding immensely in industries politicians would say are so important to necessitate that they be funded without question, hence many of the Ballot Propositions would put language into law that would make them immune from limitations by the Appropriations Budget. 

While industries such as telecommunications, water infrastructure, energy grid, natural parks, and higher education are of real value to society, that alone does not mean that these industries all merit public spending, let alone public spending beyond reproach or ability to limit. Taking these industries even further away from free market competition will result in an ever more entrenched corporatism with worse outcomes for the consumer/constituent. 

The following are our RLCTX Voting suggestions:  

Proposition Number 1:  Support 

The proposed amendment will appear on the ballot as follows:  “The constitutional amendment protecting the right to engage in farming, ranching, timber production, horticulture, and wildlife management.”

This protects the property owner’s right and choice to engage in generally accepted farm practices.  

Proposition Number 2:  Oppose 

The proposed amendment will appear on the ballot as follows:  “The constitutional amendment authorizing a local option exemption from ad-valorem taxation by a county or municipality of all or part of the appraised value of real property used to operate a child-care facility.”

Exemptions although well intended shift the tax burden on the rest of the taxpayers.  Property tax should be fair and equitable.  The more special groups we create, the bigger the burden for the rest, it is simply unfair and also known as theft.  

Proposition Number 3:  Support 

The proposed amendment will appear on the ballot as follows:  “The constitutional amendment prohibiting 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.”

Prohibits taxing net worth, inheritance, or estate.  It’s been taxed already.

Proposition Number 4: Support 

The proposed amendment will appear on the ballot as follows:  “The constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to establish a temporary limit on the maximum appraised value of real property other than a residence homestead for ad valorem tax purposes; to increase the amount of the exemption from ad valorem taxation by a school district applicable to residence homesteads from $40,000 to $100,000; to adjust the amount of the limitation on school district ad-valorem taxes imposed on the residence homesteads of the elderly or disabled to reflect increases in certain exemption amounts; to except certain appropriations to pay for ad valorem tax relief from the constitutional limitation on the rate of growth of appropriations; and to authorize the legislature to provide for a four-year term of office for a member of the board of directors of certain appraisal districts.”

The opposition to government taxing or not taxing one group in favor of another is the original bipartisan issue.  We support this amendment to pass, although we do not support exemptions as they shift a greater tax burden to the remaining taxpayers, however, we do support the authorization for four-year terms for members of the governing body of an appraisal entity in counties with a population of 75,000 or more.  This will keep the Chief Appraiser partially accountable to voters rather than the current system where School Boards, City Councils, and Commissioners Courts can abdicate all accountability for higher appraisals.  This will be significant property tax relief for many, however, because ultimately it is yet another carve out for some but not all, we don’t think politicians should be bragging about something that does not fix our property tax headache long term.

Proposition Number 5:  Oppose 

The proposed amendment will appear on the ballot as follows:  “The constitutional amendment relating to the Texas University Fund, which provides funding to certain institutions of higher education to achieve national prominence as major research universities and drive the state economy.”

Universities wanting separate funding for different university tiers create more bureaucracy and cost to keep up with separate accounts and administrations.  Also, many universities are awarding out-of-country students with complimentary tuition.  If they have this type of funding, they don’t need more, it is theft of the American taxpayer.  Passing this Proposition would put language into law that would make this fund immune from limitations by the Appropriations Budget taking future oversight out of the hands of our elected representatives.

Proposition Number 6:  Oppose

The proposed amendment will appear on the ballot as follows:  “The constitutional amendment creating the Texas water fund to assist in financing water projects in this state.”

Separate funding will expand government and create more bureaucracy therefore more hidden waste taking us further away from the sort of free market solutions which would better benefit Texans.  Passing this Proposition would put language into law that would make this fund immune from limitations by the Appropriations Budget taking future oversight out of the hands of our elected representatives.  

Prop7: Oppose 

The proposed amendment will appear on the ballot as follows:  “The constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the Texas energy fund to support the construction, maintenance, modernization, and operation of electric generating facilities.”  

Separate funding will expand government and create more bureaucracy therefore more hidden waste taking us further away from the sort of free market solutions which would better benefit Texans.   Passing this Proposition would put language into law that would make this fund immune from limitations by the Appropriations Budget taking future oversight out of the hands of our elected representatives.  

Proposition Number 8:  Oppose

The proposed amendment will appear on the ballot as follows:  “The constitutional amendment creating the broadband infrastructure fund to expand high-speed broadband access and assist in the financing of connectivity projects.”

Those supporting this amendment are the big corporations that can afford the business risks but want the taxpayer to pay for their businesses. Passing this Proposition would put language into law that would make this fund immune from limitations by the Appropriations Budget taking future oversight out of the hands of our elected representatives.  Separate funding will also expand government and create more bureaucracy therefore more hidden waste taking us further away from the sort of free market solutions which would better serve Texans.  

Proposition Number 9:  Oppose

The proposed amendment will appear on the ballot as follows:  “The constitutional amendment authorizing the 88th Legislature to provide a cost-of-living adjustment to certain annuitants of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.”

The Government continues to create special classes that take from one taxpayer to give to another, again this is theft.  

Proposition Number 10:  Oppose

The proposed amendment will appear on the ballot as follows:  “The constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation equipment or inventory held by a manufacturer of medical or biomedical products to protect the Texas healthcare network and strengthen our medical supply chain.”  

The Government continues to create special classes that take from one taxpayer to give to another, again this is theft.  This is a big handout for the Texas Medical Networks.  Property tax should be fair and equitable.

Proposition Number 11:  Oppose

The proposed amendment will appear on the ballot as follows:  “The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to permit conservation and reclamation districts in El Paso County to issue bonds supported by ad-valorem taxes to fund the development and maintenance of parks and recreational facilities.” 

El Pasoans have become wise to the continual increases of taxes through bonds.  This is creating another agency to tax El Pasoans who already pay the highest property taxes of all major cities in Texas, with more Certificate of Obligation Bond Debt than the other five major cities/counties of Texas combined while also having the lowest household median income from that list.  More taxing entities in El Paso County is the last thing the citizens there need.  We are outraged by these sneaky tactics.

Proposition Number 12:   Support

The proposed amendment will appear on the ballot as follows:  “The constitutional amendment providing for the abolition of the office of county treasurer in Galveston County.” 

The current Elected Galveston County Treasurer, Hank Dugie, ran explicitly with the goal of abolishing this office; he beat a 20-year incumbent and a third challenger without a runoff.  This amendment has the bipartisan and unanimous support of the Commissioner’s Court, police associations, chambers of commerce, and many other local groups.    Eleven of the county’s thirteen cities have resolutions supporting it. 

The duties will be rolled into the CFO, Auditor, and Clerk’s Offices saving taxpayers close to half a million dollars per year.  About nine counties in Texas have eliminated similar offices.  Since day one the Treasurer believed so strongly in the abolishment of this office that he signed an affidavit declining his over $110K salary.  

Proposition Number 13:  Oppose 

The proposed amendment will appear on the ballot as follows:  “The constitutional amendment to increase the mandatory age of retirement for state justices and judges.” 

State Judges are required to retire at age 75, this amendment raises it to 79.   The position of State Judge is much too important to lose efficiency because of physical and mental ability.  We must have our sharpest candidates working such a high office.  Also we are seeing the cost of gerontocracy in Washington DC and believe that is not a thing to be emulated here in Texas.

Proposition Number 14:  Oppose

The proposed amendment will appear on the ballot as follows:  “The constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the centennial parks conservation fund to be used for the creation and improvement of state parks.”

This is a trust fund outside the state treasury.  These are attempts to get around the State’s Constitutional Appropriation limits.  RLCTX believes in abolishing programs, not creating them, these are money dumps which again include putting language into law that would make them immune from limitations by the Appropriations Budget.