Interesting exchanges take place on the floor of the Texas House and Senate. Usually those go unreported. It’s important to shine the light of public scrutiny on some of them. An interaction today deserves that sunshine.
As the House raced through local bills, which are usually uncontested and non-controversial, Rep. Jim Jackson (R-Carrollton) was challenged by Rep. Kirk England (D-Grand Prairie) on a taxpayer protection measure.
Jackson’s bill would have required a ballot election that requests a bond issuance or a tax increase to specifically state the amount of bonds to be issued or the proposed tax rate increase and, in plain language, the purpose that the bond issuance is intended to support.
Sounds simple – and taxpayer-friendly.
The bill (HB3184) related to ballot language for a proposition to approve the imposition or increase of a tax or the issuance of bonds. Current law authorizes a local taxing entity “to write proposed ballot language for tax increases or bond issuances that are intended to obscure what the additional requested funding is to be used for.”
The rub likely came from the bill analysis which used the language in quotes above. Most taxpayers would agree – the bond issuances are often written to obscure the issues.
Taxpayers should get the information Rep. Jackson requests and should also include local debt the taxpayers are already carrying. That can be found at the Texas Bond Review Board: http://www.brb.state.tx.us/
Taxpayers deserve more information – and more sunshine – on issues that impact their communities and their pocketbooks.
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