On November 3rd the voters of Texas will have the opportunity to consider 11 proposed amendments to the state’s constitution.

In the second of this three-part series, State Representative Allen Vaught provides background information on the amendments to help encourage an informed trip to the voting booth.

This article details four of the constitutional amendments that will appear on the November 3rd ballot.


Proposition 4: Establishing the National Research University Fund

The proposition will read: “The constitutional amendment establishing the national research university fund to enable emerging research universities in this state to achieve national prominence as major research universities and transferring the balance of the higher education fund to the national research university fund.”

Proposition 4 would establish the National Research University Fund in order to provide a dedicated, independent, and equitable source of funding to enable emerging research universities in Texas to achieve national prominence as major research universities. Currently, there are only three such universities in Texas: the University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University, and Rice University. California has nine of these schools, known as Tier-One universities, and New York has seven.

Supporters say Proposition 4 would establish a pathway for emerging research universities in Texas to achieve nationally recognized, Tier-One status. The fund would be a long-term source of funding for eligible institutions. The need for a highly educated workforce in Texas cannot be overstated, and Proposition 4 would be a new effort in pursuing that goal. Tier-One universities, generally defined as those that annually commit more than $100 million to research, are critical in keeping Texas in the forefront of research as competition increases for talent, ideas, and economic development.

Opponents say the funding criteria in the enabling legislation could be too difficult for some institutions, especially historically underfunded institutions and those that primarily serve minorities, to achieve. Some institutions would start at a disadvantage because they have not been granting doctoral degrees as long as others, and the eligibility criteria would perpetuate this disadvantage.

Proposition 5: Allowing Consolidated Boards of Equalization for Appraisal Districts

The proposition will read: “The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to authorize a single board of equalization for two or more adjoining appraisal entities that elect to provide for consolidated equalizations.”

The enabling legislation for this amendment was passed by the Legislature, therefore should this amendment be approved by the voters, it will become law.

Supporters say allowing these adjoining counties to form consolidated review boards could increase efficiency. Many sparsely populated counties have a difficult time finding enough qualified and willing candidates to sit on their appraisal review boards. Proposition 5 would allow counties to join together and pool their talent. Counties that chose to establish joint appraisal review boards would have to be contiguous, so board members would be neighboring residents familiar with valuation issues in their immediate area.

Opponents say only residents of an appraisal district should decide appeals of appraisals of property located in that district. Local appraisal review boards know their county markets and local economic realities. Bringing in outsiders from another county could result in loss of local control.