Amendment 4 - State Representative Hochberg's Guide to the 2007 Texas Constitutional Amendments

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Proposition 4

The ballot will read: The constitutional amendment authorizing the issuance of up to $1 billion in bonds payable from the general revenue of the state for maintenance, improvement, repair, and construction projects and for the purchase of needed equipment.

Background: Proposition 4 allows the state to issue up to $1 billion in bonds for projects at various state agencies. The bonds would be repaid from state taxes over many years, like a mortgage. The bonds would pay for the following projects:

$233 million for 3 new prisons facilities (if authorized by the House and Senate leadership) plus $40 million to renovate existing prisons.
$200 million for new regional Dept. of Public Safety offices, a new crime lab and crime lab expansions, and an emergency vehicle operations course;
$25 million for repairs to the Battleship Texas and $27 million for state park repairs;
$48 million for county historic courthouse renovations and other historic sites;
$71 million for repair and renovation of mental health residential schools and mental health hospitals;
$32 million for deferred maintenance and asbestos abatement at state buildings;
$28 million for new construction at existing Texas Youth Commission facilities and to build one new facility; and
$14 million for maintenance at various Texas National Guard facilities.

For: We cannot afford to neglect important priorities such as state parks, three new prisons, and a new Texas Youth Commission facility. Proposition 4 would fund these important projects that would not otherwise be funded during the next two years.

Against: We should use bonds only for new construction and renovation, not to pay for maintenance, which is an ongoing expense. The state does not need to build and operate new prisons now because the Legislature increased funding for supervision and treatment programs and increased the number of available private prison beds.

For the exact wording of the changes to the Constitution
that would occur if this proposition passes,
CLICK HERE.
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 43-page House Research Organization report
on all of the propositions,
CLICK HERE.

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