Early voting ends tomorrow, Nov. 1; please vote against Proposition 4

If you haven’t voted already, please take the time to stop by an early voting location and vote AGAINST Proposition 4 and FOR Proposition 7 on the statewide constitutional amendments ballot.

Proposition 4 would make it more difficult for a future Legislature to recommend a state income tax to voters. But it would wipe out an existing constitutional provision that already prohibits an income tax unless a majority of Texas voters approve one. And it also would repeal a provision, adopted in 1993, that provides that at least two-thirds of the revenue from an income tax be dedicated to reducing school property taxes and the remainder to increasing education funding.

“Proposition 4 is bad for public education,” TSTA President Noel Candelaria said. “If adopted, it would remove from the state constitution a guarantee that any revenue raised by an income tax be dedicated to improving education funding.”

Newspapers opposing Proposition 4 include the Houston Chronicle, The Dallas Morning News, the San Antonio Express-News, the Austin American-Statesman, the Austin Chronicle and the Waco Tribune-Herald.

Proposition 4 seems more like political posturing than a real solution to a problem

TSTA supports Proposition 7, which would allow the General Land Office to double from $300 million to $600 million the amount of revenue it could donate each year from state-owned land or properties to the Available School Fund for distribution among school districts. This would be an important new boost to public education funding.

Here is more information on both propositions.

Election Day is next Tuesday, Nov. 5. If you vote early or on Election Day, please bring your photo ID.