As early voting continues in Texas’ constitutional election, Texans will be taking to the ballot box to vote on eight different proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution. The propositions address a wide variety of issues from tax relief to visitation rights in long-term care facilities. 

Now, the Republican Party of Texas is coming out against one of the proposals.

Proposition 2 would grant counties the authority to issue bonds for the purpose of developing transportation infrastructure in “blighted” localities, projects normally financed by the state. 

On Tuesday, the State Republican Executive Committee voted unanimously to issue a resolution opposing the proposed amendment. The document claims the proposal violates free-market principles, increases local debt, and creates new management districts with the authority to tax—all actions that diverge from Republican Party principles.

The RPT notes that Texas ranks second in the nation for highest average local debt, second only to New York. 

Terri Hall, founder of Texans Uniting for Reform, has been an outspoken opponent of the proposition, which would allow counties to spend up to 65 percent of property tax increases on road projects that should already be funded by the state. 

Be forewarned, this bill involves increases to your property taxes to pay off long-term debt for decades for transportation projects—or anything they can call ‘infrastructure.’ It also virtually guarantees your property taxes won’t go down,” Hall wrote in a recent Texas Scorecard commentary.

The Texas GOP’s resolution against the proposition can be viewed below:

Griffin White

After graduating high school with an associates degree in fine arts, Griffin chose to seek experience in his field of interest rather than attend university. He describes himself as a patriotic Fort Worth native with a passion for cars and guitars. He is now a fellow for Texas Scorecard.

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