BRENHAM CHARTER AMENDMENTS ON MAY BALLOT

Mark Whitehead February 9, 2015

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Jeana Bellinger small — City Secretary Jeana Bellinger explains the proposed amendments to the charter.

Brenham residents voting in the May 9th election will find a lengthy additional ballot along with the City, Blinn, and BISD ballots. The city will have 23 propositions to change various items in the city charter. The city charter sets how the city operates and was original written in 1920. It has been amended 6 times since it was written, the last time in 1995. The Texas Constitution requires that any changes to the charter go before the voters of the city.

Most of the changes to the charter are to put it in compliance with Federal and State laws or to change outdated or obsolete language. Only one of the proposed amendments will have a financial impact on the city. City Secretary Jeana Bellinger explains:

Each of the 23 proposed amendments will be a separate item on the ballot and will be printed in both English and Spanish. Voters will not be able to check one box to approve or disapprove them all.

The city plans to begin a voter education campaign about the charter changes in March and will hold a town hall type question and answer meeting in April, just before early voting for the May 9th election begins.