Texas Voters Can Block a Personal Income Tax in November

SAN ANGELO, TX – Texas voters can prohibit an individual income tax by voting for proposition 4 on the November constitutional amendment election. 

Proposition 4 has received the most attention since lawmakers passed it during the recent legislative session.  

The actual ballot language is: "The constitutional amendment prohibiting the imposition of an individual income tax, including a tax on an individual's share of partnership and unincorporated association income."

The Texas Constitution already contains a requirement that an individual income tax must be approved by a simple majority of the Texas House and the Texas Senate and voters in a statewide referendum. 

The Bullock amendment, named after legendary Democrat State Senator Bob Bullock, was ratified in 1993. 

Proposition 4 if approved by voters would require a two thirds majority in both chambers as well as approval of Texas voters. 

Texas currently has two major forms of revenue; property tax and sales tax.  

Some supporters of the proposition worry the ballot language is confusing.

Basically, a vote for proposition 4 would prohibit an individual income tax while a vote against proposition 4 would allow for an individual income tax under current law. 

Early voting for the November 5th election begins Monday, October 21st and continues until Friday, November 1st.  Hours are: Oct. 21 –  25, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Oct. 28 – 30; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Oct. 31 – Nov. 1, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.   There will be no voting on the weekend.

Applications for ballots by mail must be received by Oct. 25.  The application must be in the office and cannot be hand-delivered during early voting.  Blank applications are available at www.votetomgreencounty.org, under the Forms link, or by requesting a blank form be mailed to the voter.  Voters should plan enough time to have the blank form mailed to them and returned to the office by the 25th.

Two polling places have been relocated – Segunda Iglesia Bautista Church was moved to Southside Recreation Center, 2750 Ben Ficklin Rd., Multi-purpose Room and Southland Baptist Church was moved to Plaza del Sol II Apartments, 4359 Oak Grove Blvd., Multi-purpose Room.  A total of 19 locations will be open on Election Day and those locations, as well as Sample Ballots, may be found atwww.votetomgreencounty.org.

There are 10 Constitutional Amendments for all county voters, 1 proposition for residents of the City of San Angelo, and a bond for voters in the Water Valley Independent School District.