BELLVILLE HOSPITAL DISTRICT TAX INCREASE, SOMERVILLE MUNICIPAL PROJECTS AMONG PROPOSITIONS APPROVED BY VOTERS
Voters not only decided numerous locally contested races across the region Tuesday, but they also gave their opinion on several propositions.
From an increase to the tax rate within the Bellville Hospital District, to municipal improvement projects in Somerville, to incorporation of the community of Ellinger in Fayette County, voters had a say in propositions around the area.
Voters in Bellville approved an increase to the ad valorem tax rate within the hospital district by a tally of 3,628-3,185. The rate will increase from 5.21 cents per $100 valuation to 9.999 cents per $100 for the purpose of maintenance and operations of the district.
Austin County Emergency Services Districts One and Two both asked voter to approve propositions, but only one was approved. District One, which manages services and funding for the San Felipe-Frydek Volunteer Fire Department, asked for the authorization of an ad valorem tax rate of 10 cents on each $100 of taxable property value, but the proposition was rejected 676 to 867. Meanwhile, District Two, which funds the Sealy Fire Department, will be able to adopt a local sales and use tax in the district at a rate no more than 1.5 percent, after the measure was approved 2,242-1,749.
In Somerville, voters approved a pair of propositions, allowing the city to issue $1.5 million in general obligation bonds for city projects. Proposition A, issuing $400,000 for water line and sewer system repair and construction, passed 334-152. Proposition B, for $1.1 million for the improvement, repair, reconstruction and resurfacing of city streets, was approved 341-150.
In Fayette County, residents of the community of Ellinger approved a vote of incorporation 76-44. The city will be organized as a Type C municipality under state law, and will be led by Mayor Matt Mikulenka and Commissioners Joseph Lamer and Kenneth Stojanik, who were unopposed on the ballot. The new city will be able to collect a 1 percent sales tax on purchases within city limits, increasing to a new sales tax rate of 7.75 percent from 6.75 percent.
All seven of the City of Bryan’s propositions were passed by voters. The first proposition, allowing the city council to set a minimum amount at which the city manager can reject bids without prior council approval, passed 12,760-11,426. Council terms will be raised to four years from three and set to a limit of two terms after Proposition Two passed 20,797-3,725. Proposition Three was approved 15,014-8,924, and will amend the city charter to reflect state legislation from 2019 regarding annexation. The fourth proposition, passed 18,097-5,756, will allow the city to own and operate fiber broadband internet. The fifth proposal, requiring councilmembers to be a resident of Bryan and their single member district for one year before running for office, was approved 22,000-2,277. Proposition Six corrects a typographical error regarding when city ordinances go into effect, and was passed 20,260-2,509. The seventh proposal, amending the city charter to include the authority of the city to enter into solid waste contracts, was passed 19,150-3,979.
Voters also gave the go-ahead to propositions from Brazos County Emergency Service Districts One and Two. District One, which contracts with the South Brazos County Fire Department, was approved by a tally of 2,973-2,682 to increase the maximum ad valorem tax rate to 10 cents per $100 in property value, up from the current 3 cents per $100. Voters for
District Two, which provides emergency services to the northeast area of Brazos County, moved 1,272-1,013 in favor of a new local sales and use tax at a rate not to exceed 1.5 percent.
In Prairie View, voters reauthorized the local sales and use tax at a rate of a quarter of 1 percent by a margin of 1,786-318. The rate will continue to provide revenue for maintenance and repair of city streets.
The Waller-Harris Emergency Services District #200, which covers all of Waller County and a portion of Harris County in the Katy and Cypress areas, will be allowed to adopt a local sales and use tax at a rate no more than 1 percent after voters approved the measure 8,970-7,560. The additional penny in tax per dollar spent will only be collected outside of city limits within the district.