Alternative Water Management
Strategies, June 2005,
from the Lone Star Chapter Sierra Club. More Water Publications
For
Release: Monday, October 24, 2011 For More Information: Ken Kramer
512-626-4204
Vote for Prop 8 on the November 8th Ballot – Early Voting Underway
The Sierra Club and an array of state and regional environmental groups urge you to "Vote
FOR Prop 8!"
Proposition 8 (Prop 8) is one of ten proposed amendments to the Texas state constitution that voters across the state are being asked to consider this fall. Election
Day for the ten propositions (and local races and proposals) is
Tuesday, November 8, but early voting for this election runs
from Monday, October 24 through Friday, November 4. Prop 8 is the only one of the proposed state constitutional amendments that the Sierra Club has taken a position on – the executive committee of the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club unanimously approved support for Prop 8.
What is Prop 8?
Currently Texas property owners who use their land for agricultural production or wildlife management are eligible to have their land value assessed at a lower property tax rate than would be the case if that land was appraised at its market value. That "productivity" assessment reduces the property taxes of those landowners. Prop 8 would extend a similar tax incentive to these landowners if they decide to instead manage their land to conserve water and protect water quality. And because the water incentives in Prop 8 would only apply to property owners who already qualify for the agriculture or wildlife incentives, it would not reduce local property tax revenues.
This proposed constitutional amendment was initiated by The Nature Conservancy to assist landowners who want to use their land for stewardship of water resources, and the proposal received bipartisan support in the Texas Legislature, which unanimously approved sending it to the voters. A
website has been set up to promote Prop 8 and to provide
additional information and answer questions about the proposal.
Here is the link to the website: http://www.texansforprop8.com. Of special note is the website section on "Frequently Asked Questions."
In addition to The Nature Conservancy and the Sierra Club, supporters of Prop 8 include:
National Wildlife Federation
Hill Country Conservancy
Hill Country Alliance
Wilderness Alliance
Texas League of Conservation Voters
Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance
Texas Wildlife Association
Texas Land Trust Council
Texas Society for Ecological Restoration
Texas Impact
Texas Campaign for the Environment
Edwards Aquifer Authority
& numerous businesses and chambers of commerce around the state
If you want information on any of the other propositions on the statewide ballot, please see the overview of the proposed constitutional amendments prepared by the House Research Organization, a bipartisan research arm of the Texas Legislature, available at http://www.hro.house.state.tx.us/pdf/focus/amend82.pdf, or check out the November 2011 Constitutional Amendments Voter Guide compiled by the League of Women Voter of Texas at http://www.lwvtexas.org/.
Please note that the Sierra Club is NOT
taking a position for or against Prop 2 on the ballot, which would provide the Texas Water Development Board with a new authorization of $6 billion in bonds in order to provide financial assistance (through loans) for local and regional government entities for water and wastewater projects.
