Amendment 3 - State Representative Hochberg's Guide to the 2009 Texas Constitutional Amendments

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Proposition 3

The ballot will read: The constitutional amendment providing for uniform standards and procedures for the appraisal of property for ad valorem tax purposes.

Background: The Texas Legislature sets the standards that county appraisal districts must follow when appraising property for property tax purposes. However, while the state sets the standards, the state has no power to force the appraisal districts to follow the standards. Proposition 3 would allow the Legislature to give a state agency the power to make sure that appraisal standards are followed everywhere in the state.

The state currently tries to enforce the standards by reducing state aid to school districts located in counties where appraisal standards are not followed. But this penalizes the schools for something they have no control over, since the appraisal districts, not the school districts, conduct the appraisals. Houston ISD has been threatened with cuts in its state aid because, according to the State Comptroller, the Harris County Appraisal District has not properly followed state standards in conducting appraisals.

For: This proposed amendment would make sure that properties in different counties are appraised according to the same uniform statewide standards. It would allow appraisal standards to be enforced by direct action against appraisal districts, rather than relying on penalties against school districts. Since state funding to school districts is partially based on local property value, it’s unfair to allow values to be determined differently in different counties.

Against: This proposed amendment would violate local control by involving the state in property appraisals, which has traditionally been a local responsibility.

For the exact wording of the changes to the Constitution
that would occur if this proposition passes,
CLICK HERE.
Note that Propositions 2, 3, and 5 were passed together in a single bill.
The language for Proposition 3 is contained in "Article 3" of the bill.
Words to be added to the Constitution will be underlined.
Words to be removed, if any, will be [~~struck through~~].

For a more detailed analysis of this proposition
from the House Research Organization,
CLICK HERE.

For the full House Research Organization report
on all of the propositions,
CLICK HERE.

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