Proposition 4 – Maintenance, Construction Bonds Amendment

TEXAS – Proposition 4 – SJR 65

Brief background information: (Provided by the Texas Legislative Council)

This amendment allows the Texas Public Finance Authority to issue and sell up to $1 billion in general obligation bonds for maintenance, improvement, repair, or construction projects authorized by the state agencies outlined in the amendment and for the purchase of needed equipment. Construction projects include provision for up to three new high security prisons.

Projects will be on the behalf of:

Texas Building and Procurement Commission Parks and Wildlife Department Adjutant General’s department (Camp Mabry) Department of State Health Services Department of Aging and Disability Services Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired Texas Youth Commission Texas Historical Commission Texas Department of Criminal Justice Texas School for the Deaf Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas.

Pro and Con – information provided by Jacci Howard Bear of About.com

Why Vote for Prop 4 The facilities covered in this amendment are in need of maintenance and repair. Delaying this work will result in greater expense down the road.

Some repairs and renovations are necessary for health and environmental reasons — such as asbestos abatement in state buildings.

Some projects are necessary for homeland security and public safety, including maintenance at readiness centers for emergency response, repairs and maintenance at the Texas National Guard’s Camp Mabry, and Department of Public Safety crime lab expansions.

Provides for construction of a badly needed Texas Youth Commission facility.Using bonds to pay for this work allows the state to pay for these projects over an extended period of time.

Why Vote Against Prop 4 A significant portion of the funds ($300 million) have not yet been allocated to specific projects, giving the legislature and state agencies too much discretion in deciding how to use those funds without public input.

More prisons are not necessary in light of the current difficulty the state has in staffing existing prison facilities.

While some projects are necessary and worthwhile, this amendment lumps together too many diverse projects that should be individually evaluated and offered to voters in separate packages.

— Edited for the web by Miguel Martinez