Voting can be confusing. To help you feel less overwhelmed by the process, I wanted to translate some parts of the voting ballot into plain English. All the way down the ballot—after your Federal, State, and Local officials—are Special Elections and Propositions. Ballots only allow for the shortest summaries, and they aren’t always clear on what is actually being proposed. If you live in Bexar County, these are the items you may see on your ballot. Not all the items will be on everyone’s ballot.
In bold, you’ll see the language as it will appear on your ballot. Under that, you’ll see a translation out of legal-political speak into normal-human speak. Educate yourself as to the issues that affect you and make an informed decision For more information, consider https://www.vote411.org/, a website run by the League of Women Voters. You can enter in your address and specific candidates and propositions will come up with information and websites (if available) both for and against each issue.
Not sure where to go to vote? Check out Bexar County’s website. Just put in your address and it will show you your polling location. You can vote at ANY Early Voting location from October 22–November 2. Those can be found on this website.
BEXAR COUNTY ESD NO. 12 – SPECIAL ELECTION
PROPOSITION A: The adoption of a local sales and use tax in Bexar County Emergency Services District No. 12 at a rate not to exceed one and one-half percent in any location in the district.
ESD 12 is out I-10 past 1604. This proposition would increase taxes no more than 1.5%.
SOUTHSIDE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT – SPECIAL ELECTION
PROPOSITION A: “THE ISSUANCE OF $17,250,000 OF BONDS BY SOUTHSIDE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION, ACQUISITION, RENOVATION AND EQUIPMENT OF SCHOOL BUILDINGS IN THE DISTRICT, AND THE LEVYING OF THE TAX FOR PAYMENT THEREOF.”
For residents of Southside ISD (far southeast San Antonio and adjacent area), this proposition would approve bonds for construction. It would approve a tax to pay for that bond.
SOUTHWEST INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT – BOND ELECTION
PROPOSITION A: “THE ISSUANCE OF $75,000,000 OF BONDS BY THE SOUTHWEST INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR SCHOOL FACILITIES, INCLUDING A NEW NATATORIUM, THE PURCHASE OF NEW SCHOOL BUSES, AND THE PURCHASE OF THE NECESSARY SITES FOR SCHOOL FACILITIES, AND THE LEVYING OF A TAX IN PAYMENT THEREOF.”
For residents of Southwest ISD (far southwest San Antonio and Von Ormy), this proposition would approve bonds for facilities, including a new natatorium (swimming pool), new buses, and the purchase of land for future school facilities. It would approve a tax to pay for that bond.
CITY OF CHINA GROVE, TEXAS – SPECIAL ELECTION
PROPOSITION A: INCREASE LOCAL SALES AND USE TAX IN THE CITY OF CHINA GROVE AT THE RATE OF ONE-FOURTH OF ONE PERCENT TO PROVIDE REVENUE FOR GENERAL USE.
For residents of China Grove (far east side of San Antonio), this proposition would increase taxes 0.25% for their general use fund.
PROPOSITION B: THE REAUTHORIZATION OF THE LOCAL SALES AND USE TAX IN THE CITY OF CHINA GROVE AT THE RATE OF ONE-FOURTH OF ONE PERCENT TO PROVIDE REVENUE FOR MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF MUNICIPAL STREETS.
For residents of China Grove (far east side of San Antonio), this proposition would continue the local tax of 0.25% for revenue to maintain and repair local roads.
CITY OF CONVERSE, TEXAS – SPECIAL ELECTION
PROPOSITION A: THE REDUCTION OF THE CURRENT 1/2 PERCENT SALES AND USE TAX ALLOCATED TO THE CONVERSE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (CEDC-TYPE B) BY 1/4 PERCENT TO 1/4 PERCENT AND THE ADOPTION OF A LOCAL SALES AND USE TAX AT A RATE OF 1/4 PERCENT TO PROVIDE REVENUE FOR MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF MUNICIPAL STREETS.
For residents of Converse (northeast of San Antonio), this proposition would reduce the current sales tax of 0.50% to 0.25% and would adopt a new tax of 0.25% specifically for the maintenance and repair of municipal streets. Ultimately, the tax amount would remain unchanged, but half would be set aside for street work.
CITY OF LEON VALLEY, TEXAS – SPECIAL ELECTION
PROPOSITION A: WHETHER THE CITY OF LEON VALLEY CRIME CONTROL AND PREVENTION DISTRICT SHOULD BE CONTINUED FOR TEN (10) YEARS AND THE CRIME CONTROL AND PREVENTION DISTRICT ONE-EIGHTH (1/8) OF ONE PERCENT (1%) SALES TAX THAT FUNDS THE DISTRICT SHOULD BE CONTINUED FOR TEN (10) YEARS
For residents of Leon Valley (northwest San Antonio), this proposition would continue the LV Crime Control and Prevention District for 10 years and continue the funding through the 0.125% sales tax already in place. The LV Crime Control and Prevention District was formed in 2013 and created a crime control plan for Leon Valley.
CITY OF WINDCREST, TEXAS – SPECIAL ELECTION
PROPOSITION A: THE ISSUANCE OF $7,400,000 OF BONDS BY THE CITY OF WINDCREST, TEXAS FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSTRUCTING AND IMPROVING STREETS, SIDEWALKS, AND RELATED DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CITY, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO MIDCROWN DRIVE, CRESTWAY DRIVE AND EAGLECREST BOULEVARD, AND LEVYING THE TAX IN PAYMENT THEREOF.
For residents of Windcrest (northeast San Antonio), this proposition would approve bonds for street, sidewalk, and drainage improvement. It would approve a tax to pay for that bond.
PROPOSITION B: THE ISSUANCE OF $2,000,000 OF BONDS BY THE CITY OF WINDCREST, TEXAS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ACQUIRING FIRE TRUCKS AND CAPITAL EQUIPMENT FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND LEVYING THE TAX IN PAYMENT THEREOF.
For residents of Windcrest (northeast San Antonio), this proposition would approve bonds for use by the fire department. It would approve a tax to pay for that bond.
CITY OF SAN ANTONIO – CHARTER AMENDMENTS ELECTION
PROPOSITION A: SHALL THE CITY CHARTER BE AMENDED TO EXPAND THE TYPES OF ORDINANCES THAT MAY BE SUBJECT TO REFERENDUM INCLUDING APPROPRIATION OF MONEY, LEVYING A TAX, GRANTING A FRANCHISE, FIXING PUBLIC UTILITY RATES, ZONING AND REZONING OF PROPERTY; INCREASE THE NUMBER OF DAYS WITHIN WHICH A PETITION MAY BE FILED SEEKING A REFERENDUM ON AN ORDINANCE PASSED BY COUNCIL FROM FORTY TO ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY DAYS AFTER PASSAGE OF THE ORDINANCE; AND TO PROVIDE THAT NO MORE THAN TWENTY THOUSAND SIGNATURES OF REGISTERED VOTERS ARE REQUIRED FOR A REFERENDUM PETITION INSTEAD OF TEN PERCENT OF THOSE ELECTORS QUALIFIED TO VOTE AT THE LAST REGULAR MUNICIPAL ELECTION?
Should more of the rules governing the City should be open for voting by the general public? It provides several examples, the most important to many of us being taxes. Should the timeline to request such a vote should be extended from 40 days to 180 days after the City ordinance is passed by the City Council? Currently, for those ordinances where the public can request a vote be taken, a petition is required with 10% of registered voters signing it (about 100,000 signatures). This propositions asks that the number be lowered to 20,000 signatures.
PROPOSITION B: SHALL THE CITY CHARTER BE AMENDED TO LIMIT THE TERM THE CITY MANAGER MAY SERVE TO NO LONGER THAN EIGHT YEARS AND TO LIMIT THE COMPENSATION OF THE CITY MANAGER TO NO MORE THAN TEN TIMES THE ANNUAL SALARY FURNISHED TO THE LOWEST PAID FULL-TIME CITY EMPLOYEE AND REQUIRE A SUPERMAJORITY VOTE OF CITY COUNCIL TO APPOINT THE CITY MANAGER?
Should the City Manager be limited to holding the position for no more than eight years? Should the City Manager’s compensation be limited (current city salaries would cap the City Manager salary at $290,000 under this proposal)? Should the appointment of a City Manager need significantly more than half of the City Council?
PROPOSITION C: SHALL THE CITY CHARTER BE AMENDED TO PROVIDE THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIRE FIGHTERS LOCAL 624 WITH UNILATERAL AUTHORITY TO REQUIRE THE CITY TO PARTICIPATE IN BINDING ARBITRATION OF ALL ISSUES IN DISPUTE WITH THE ASSOCIATION WITHIN FORTY-FIVE DAYS OF THE CITY’S RECEIPT OF THE ASSOCIATION’S WRITTEN ARBITRATION REQUEST?
Should this specific firefighters’ union have the authority to require arbitration within 45 days of requesting it? Arbitration is a process outside the courts, where an impartial third party conducts a hearing and reaches a decision. Both parties have to abide by the decision.
CITY OF SAN ANTONIO – SPECIAL ELECTION
PROPOSITION A: LACKLAND
OPTION 1: YES ANNEXATION: SHALL THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO ANNEX FOR LIMITED PURPOSES, WHICH INCLUDES THE AUTHORITY TO IMPOSE RELATED FINES, FEES AND OTHER CHARGES, CERTAIN AREAS IN THE CITY’S EXTRATERRITORIAL JURISDICTION WITHIN FIVE MILES OF THE LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE – MEDINA TRAINING ANNEX AND WITHIN THREE YEARS FOLLOWING CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL ANNEX FOR FULL PURPOSES TO PROVIDE CITY SERVICES AND IMPOSE TAXES?
OPTION 2: NO ANNEXATION BUT WITH LAND USE REGULATIONS: SHALL THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO BE PROVIDED WITH THE AUTHORITY TO ADOPT AND ENFORCE AN ORDINANCE REGULATING THE LAND USE IN THE CITY’S EXTRATERRITORIAL JURISDICTION WITHIN FIVE MILES OF THE BOUNDARY OF THE LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE – MEDINA TRAINING ANNEX IN THE MANNER RECOMMENDED BY THE MOST RECENT JOINT LAND USE STUDY, FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROTECTING THE MILITARY MISSIONS, INCLUDING THE AUTHORITY TO ADOPT AND IMPOSE
RELATED FEES, FINES AND OTHER CHARGES?
This proposition gives residents who live around Lackland AFB two choices. The first is to allow San Antonio to annex the area. Residents would be subject to City taxes, fines, fees, etc and would be able to use City services. The second is to decline annexation and allow San Antonio to regulate the land use in a manner recommended by a land use study. If no vote is entered here, the default will be to Option 2.
PROPOSITION A: CAMP BULLIS
OPTION 1: YES ANNEXATION: SHALL THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO ANNEX FOR LIMITED PURPOSES, WHICH INCLUDES THE AUTHORITY TO IMPOSE RELATED FINES, FEES AND OTHER CHARGES, CERTAIN AREAS IN THE CITY’S EXTRATERRITORIAL JURISDICTION WITHIN FIVE MILES OF THE BOUNDARY OF THE CAMP BULLIS AND CAMP STANLEY MILITARY BASES AND WITHIN THREE YEARS FOLLOWING CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL ANNEX FOR FULL PURPOSES TO PROVIDE CITY SERVICES AND IMPOSE TAXES?
OPTION 2: NO ANNEXATION BUT WITH LAND USE REGULATIONS: SHALL THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO BE PROVIDED WITH THE AUTHORITY TO ADOPT AND ENFORCE AN ORDINANCE REGULATING THE LAND USE IN THE CITY’S EXTRATERRITORIAL JURISDICTION WITHIN FIVE MILES OF THE BOUNDARY OF THE CAMP BULLIS AND CAMP STANLEY MILITARY BASES IN THE MANNER RECOMMENDED BY THE MOST RECENT JOINT LAND USE STUDY, FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROTECTING THE MILITARY MISSIONS, INCLUDING THE AUTHORITY TO ADOPT AND IMPOSE RELATED FEES, FINES AND OTHER CHARGES?
This proposition gives residents who live around Camp Bullis two choices. The first is to allow San Antonio to annex the area. Residents would be subject to City taxes, fines, fees, etc and would be able to use City services. The second is to decline annexation and allow San Antonio to regulate the land use in a manner recommended by a land use study. If no vote is entered here, the default will be to Option 2.
