Elephant in the Room

Guest Speakers: JCRV Research Committee, Tina White and Matthew Lucci

VIDEO PRESENTATION or DOWNLOAD PRESENTATION
What are MUDS (Municipal Utility Districts?
MUDS in Texas
Why MUDS?
Funding of MUDS
Issuing Bonds
Concerns
What does this mean for Property Taxes?
MUDS in Johnson County (for May 2023 election)
https://www.jcrvtx.com/MUDbonds.html

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Guest Speaker: John Wood, Precinct Chair in Grandview, PCT 27

BACKGROUND: The overarching issues with water infrastructure today are aging systems and insufficient funding for replacement. In a new report by Environment America, Texas ranks first among U.S. states for toxic discharges into streams, rivers, and lakes.

Infrastructure includes the various components that pump, divert, transport, store, treat and deliver safe drinking water. Corrosion, crumbling and age not only weaken these systems, but lead to them breaking down or leaching chemicals and other toxins into drinking water supplies and runoff areas.

In 2021, the American Society of Civil Engineers issued a report that gave a grade of C- to Texas’ drinking water infrastructure, describing it as “mediocre [and] requires attention.”

According to data from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Texas had 3,866 water boil notices in 2021, the most in the last decade and for many small towns, system repairs won’t be cheap. The number of sanitary sewer overflows more than doubled from 2,500 to nearly 6,000 between 2016 and 2019.

Texas’ population is projected to grow by more than 1,000 people per day during the next five decades — from 29.7 million in 2020 to approximately 51.5 million by 2070. As population continues to grow in the state, the demand for clean, quality water is going to be a challenge because many wastewater systems aren’t resilient enough to withstand this increase in population demand; and with extreme weather events, water supply systems have become increasingly more vulnerable to disasters.

About 80% of Texas has been facing drought conditions most of the year, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. When it gets dry, the soil expands and contracts, and when it does that, it impacts everything underground. Additionally, the last winter storm also caused pipes to freeze and burst all throughout the state.

Water quality and infrastructure are inextricably linked, and this relationship is only going to become more important and tenuous over time without proper funding and attention.

https://infrastructurereportcard.org/state-item/texas/

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Guest Speaker: Georgia Wright Head, Johnson County Director, Families Engaged

VIEW PRESENTATION  www.familiesengaged.org
INTRODUCTION: The government education system in Texas is failing students and families. Students are not receiving the quality education required by our state constitution. Empowering parents to help them understand their rights, and returning true local control of education to parents are important to promoting family values.

Teaching parents how to use their God given rights to guide and direct their child’s heart, mind and soul are critically important today when state and federal legislation, school districts, and cultural norms are aimed at destroying parent’s rights and family values. Our churches must return to their established place in our communities by engaging and subsidizing broken families in order to support educational assistance that will lead to long-lasting student success.

Join us in a conversation about educating parents, citizens and lawmakers to the damage of the Texas Education Code through legislation that dilutes family values, quality of education and our constitutional republic.

DISCUSSION: Empowering parents with their rights and teaching them how to use these rights to guide and direct their child’s education; returning control of education to the parents.

Enlightening Texans to the failure of government education agencies to provide a quality student experience.

Texas legislative priorities.

The ideas behind the Social Emotional Learning (SEL) program that is being introduced into our schools and their ramifications on our children. 

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Guest Speaker: Robin Wilson, Johnson County Republican Chairman

Part 1: 2024 Presidential Election Cycle
VIDEO PRESENTATION
Introduction to the 2024 Presidential Election Cycle for Johnson County, Texas. Dates for Election Day, Run-off, and General Election. Voting locations for the elections, as well as, the TX State Constitutional Amendment election in Fall 2023. Hear about the struggles with our voting locations and finding quality, and dedicated election workers to ensure we maintain election integrity (which they get paid for). Learn the positions in the County up for election in 2024 and when candidate applications are due. Also, hear about the new, proposed ballot counter machine the County is investing in to implement by the 2024 election cycle.

Part 2: Conventions
VIDEO PRESENTATION or DOWNLOAD PRESENTATION
What are Party Conventions?
What is their purpose?
When are the Conventions held?
Who can attend or be a delegate at Convention?
What qualifications do I require to participate?
What can I do to ensure my participation?
What are Resolutions?
Can I serve on a Committee?
What happens at the State Convention?
What's the State Convention process?

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Guest Speakers: JCRV Election Judges, Larry Trammell and Debbie Kilen

INTRODUCTION: The Johnson County Republican Party, and its volunteers, have analyzed election data to share with you. Not just the results of the election, but factual data that shows that there is still much to do in Johnson County to get the votes out. Republicans may have won the election, but the current voter turnout is NOT enough to “Keep Texas Red”.

Join us to learn how we did in the election with an analytical breakdown outlining voter turnout and gaps by precinct; and hear what we are doing about it. We want to hear from you to discuss ways we can all gain conservative voter strength.

FACTS YOU NEED TO KNOW: Johnson County ranks 26 in population out of the 254 counties in Texas. Harris County (*Houston) is the largest county in Texas, with Dallas County (*Dallas), Tarrant County (*Fort Worth), Bexar County (*San Antonio) and Travis County (*Austin) leading as the top five most populous counties in Texas.

All these other counties are run by Democrats, and this means 2 out of the top 5 populated counties are right at our back door.

In 2022, Congressional and state legislative district boundaries changed in Texas due to all the move-ins. Prior to this re-districting, Johnson County was in a single Congressional District. Now we are split into two Congressional Districts - District 25 Rep. Roger Williams (R) and District 6 Rep. Jake Ellzey (R). Johnson County is the largest county in these Congressional Districts, with Tarrant County having a sliver.

Elections that have a meaningful effect on the balance of power in governments or are particularly competitive and compelling are called Battleground Elections. Johnson County is a Battleground County. Austin Democrats want to flip Johnson County BLUE. We invite you to join us in this battle to retain our Texas way of life!

* County Seat

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GUEST SPEAKERS: Sgt. Thompson and Sgt. Abbott
Cleburne Police Department

Ryan Eady First Assistant District Attorney for Johnson and Somerville Counties

PREVENTION & SAFETY TIPS FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT: Join us to learn valuable principles of crime prevention and safety for you and your family at home or in public.

A PROSECUTORS PERSPECTIVE: A presentation with a prosecutors perspective on crime and criminal prosecution in Johnson County. A comprehensive overview of current and past trends in Johnson County criminal activity such as; violent offenses, crimes against children, drug and property crime and financial or exploitative schemes. Thoughts on steps and proactive community measures to keep Johnson County safe.

FLYER

Texas State Constitutional Amendments to vote on in the November 2023 election. In the order they will appear on the November ballot, there are 14 Amendments to vote on.

Download and share Amendments
Click here for more explanation and details

1) Proposition 1 - HJR 126
"The constitutional amendment protecting the right to engage in farming, ranching, timber production, horticulture, and wildlife management." READ MORE DETAILS

A "yes" vote supports establishing a right to farming, ranching, timber production, horticulture, and wildlife management in the Texas Constitution.

A "no" vote opposes establishing a right to farming, ranching, timber production, horticulture, and wildlife management in the Texas Constitution.

2) Proposition 2 - SJR 64
"The constitutional amendment authorizing a local option exemption from ad valorem taxation by a county or municipality of all or part of the appraised value of real property used to operate a child-care facility." READ MORE DETAILS

A "yes" vote supports amending the state constitution to allow counties or municipalities to authorize a property tax exemption from ad valorem taxation on all or part of the appraised value of real property used to operate childcare facilities.

A "no" vote opposes this constitutional amendment to authorize local property tax exemptions from ad valorem taxation on properties used to operate childcare facilities.

3) Proposition 3 - HJR 132
"The constitutional amendment prohibiting the imposition of an individual wealth or net worth tax, including a tax on the difference between the assets and liabilities of an individual or family." READ MORE DETAILS

A "yes" vote supports amending the Texas Constitution to prohibit the Legislature from enacting a wealth or net worth tax in the future.

A "no" vote opposes amending the Texas Constitution to prohibit the Legislature from enacting a wealth or net worth tax in the future.

4) Proposition 4 - HJR 2 (2nd Special Session)
"The constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to establish a temporary limit on the maximum appraised value of real property other than a residence homestead for ad valorem tax purposes; to increase the amount of the exemption from ad valorem taxation by a school district applicable to residence homesteads from $40,000 to $100,000; to adjust the amount of the limitation on school district ad valorem taxes imposed on the residence homesteads of the elderly or disabled to reflect increases in certain exemption amounts; to except certain appropriations to pay for ad valorem tax relief from the constitutional limitation on the rate of growth of appropriations; and to authorize the legislature to provide for a four-year term of office for a member of the board of directors of certain appraisal districts." READ MORE DETAILS

A "yes" vote supports amending the state constitution to:
- Increase the homestead tax exemption from $40,000 to $100,000
- authorize the state legislature to limit the annual appraisal increase on non-homestead real property;
- exclude appropriations made to increase state education funding from the state appropriations limit; and
- authorize the state legislature to provide for four-year terms for members of the governing body of an appraisal entity in counties with a population of 75,000 or more.

A "no" vote opposes this constitutional amendment to increase the homestead property tax exemption; authorize the state legislature to limit the annual appraisal of non-homestead real property; and exclude increased state education funding from the appropriations limit.

5) Proposition 5 - HJR 3
"The constitutional amendment relating to the Texas University Fund, which provides funding to certain institutions of higher education to achieve national prominence as major research universities and drive the state economy." READ MORE DETAILS

A "yes" vote supports renaming the National Research University Fund to the Texas University Fund and allocating annually the interest income, dividends, and investment earnings from the state's rainy day fund to the university fund to support research activities at state universities.

A "no" vote opposes renaming the National Research University Fund to the Texas University Fund and establishing an ongoing revenue source for the fund.

6) Proposition 6 - SJR 75
"The constitutional amendment creating the Texas water fund to assist in financing water projects in this state." READ MORE DETAILS

A "yes" vote supports amending the state constitution to create the Texas Water Fund administered by the Texas Water Development Board to finance water projects in the state.

A "no" vote opposes amending the state constitution to create the Texas Water Fund administered by the Texas Water Development Board to finance water projects in the state.

7) Proposition 7 - SJR 93
"The constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the Texas energy fund to support the construction, maintenance, modernization, and operation of electric generating facilities." READ MORE DETAILS

A "yes" vote supports creating the Texas Energy Fund to be administered by the Public Utilities Commission and authorizing the state legislature to allocate funds for the modernization of electric generating facilities.

A "no" vote opposes creating the Texas Energy Fund to be administered by the Public Utilities Commission and authorizing the state legislature to allocate funds for the modernization of electric generating facilities.

8) Proposition 8 - HJR 125
"The constitutional amendment creating the broadband infrastructure fund to expand high-speed broadband access and assist in the financing of connectivity projects." READ MORE DETAILS

A "yes" vote supports amending the state constitution to create the broadband infrastructure fund to finance broadband and telecommunications projects.

A "no" vote opposes amending the state constitution to create the broadband infrastructure fund to finance broadband and telecommunications projects.

9) Proposition 9 - HJR 2
"The constitutional amendment authorizing the 88th Legislature to provide a cost-of-living adjustment to certain annuitants of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas." READ MORE DETAILS

A "yes" vote supports amending the state constitution to authorize the state legislature to make cost-of-living adjustments to certain annuitants, as defined by law, of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.

A "no" vote opposes amending the state constitution to authorize the state legislature to make cost-of-living adjustments to certain annuitants, as defined by law, of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.

10) Proposition 10 - SJR 87
"The constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation equipment or inventory held by a manufacturer of medical or biomedical products to protect the Texas healthcare network and strengthen our medical supply chain." READ MORE DETAILS

A "yes" vote supports amending the state constitution to authorize the state legislature to provide for an ad valorem tax exemption on equipment and inventory manufactured by medical or biomedical companies.

A "no" vote opposes amending the state constitution to authorize the state legislature to provide for an ad valorem tax exemption on equipment and inventory manufactured by medical or biomedical companies.

11) Proposition 11 - SJR 32
"The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to permit conservation and reclamation districts in El Paso County to issue bonds supported by ad valorem taxes to fund the development and maintenance of parks and recreational facilities." READ MORE DETAILS

A "yes" vote supports amending the state constitution to authorize the state legislature to permit conservation and reclamation districts in El Paso County to issue bonds to fund parks and recreational facilities.

A "no" vote opposes this constitutional amendment, thereby maintaining that conservation and reclamation districts in El Paso County cannot issue bonds.

12) Proposition 12 - HJR 134
"The constitutional amendment providing for the abolition of the office of county treasurer in Galveston County." READ MORE DETAILS

A "yes" vote supports amending the state constitution to provide for the abolishment of the Galveston County treasurer and authorizing the county to employ or contract a qualified person or designate another county officer to fulfill the function previously performed by the treasurer.

A "no" vote opposes amending the state constitution to provide for the abolishment of the Galveston County treasurer.

13) Proposition 13 - HJR 107
"The constitutional amendment to increase the mandatory age of retirement for state justices and judges." READ MORE DETAILS

A "yes" vote supports amending the state constitution to increase the mandatory retirement age for state judges and justices from 75 to 79.

A "no" vote opposes increasing the mandatory retirement age of state justices and judges and removing the requirement that if a judge or justice is elected to serve a six-year term and reaches 75 years of age during the first four years of service the justice or judge must vacate the office on December 31 of the fourth year of the term.

14) Proposition 14 - SJR 74
"The constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the centennial parks conservation fund to be used for the creation and improvement of state parks." READ MORE DETAILS

A "yes" vote supports amending the state constitution to create the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund—a trust fund for the creation and improvement of state parks.

A "no" vote opposes this amendment to create the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund.

Information provided by Ballotpedia

PANEL:
Michael Percifield - Precinct Chair, PCT 28
John Wood - Precinct Chair, PCT 27
Mary Welch - Precinct Chair, PCT 26
Larry Trammell - Precinct Chair, PCT 13

Johnson County has 43 Voting Precincts. State election law dictates that each voting precinct within a county have a Republican Precinct Chair, elected by the members of that precinct during the Republican Primary election. They serve a two year term as the grassroots representative of the Republican Party in that precinct. (Served for two years or until the next Primary Election if appointed within the mid-term.) This position is the first rung in the ladder of the Republican Party hierarchy. They are officials of the Republican Party and are registered with the Secretary of State.

Electing a Precinct Chair:
Precinct Chair is an elected position, elected during the Primary Election by the voters in that precinct. (The next election is March 2024.) However, either through voter apathy or, more likely, voters simply not understanding the purpose or even the very existence of the position, it is not uncommon for the position to go unfilled. The County Executive Committee, made up of the Republican County Chair and the elected Precinct Chairs can appoint a Precinct Chair if a willing voter can be found, but even then some positions remain unfilled. Precinct Chair is a very important position in the Republican Party, so we are always looking for qualified candidates.

The below is a short list of the duties and responsibilities of this position.
> Maximize voter participation in their precinct
> Member of the Executive Committee
> Arrange Precinct Convention and assist in County Convention

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