Williamson County had a slightly higher voter turnout from the last constitutional amendment election in 2021, with 69,854 of 419,725 registered voters participating. That resulted in a 16.64% turnout in the polls.
Election Day was this past week, and voters approved 12 out of the 14 amendments to the Texas constitution.
Additionally, the $825 million roads bond and $59 million parks bond were approved by Williamson County voters.
Roads Bond
The roads bond passed with 62.23% of county residents for the $825 million bond and 37.77% against it.
Approval of the roads bond allows the county to sell bonds for roads, highways and bridges. Some of the potential future projects listed in the proposition affect Taylor, such as projects on Chandler Road, East Wilco Highway and Corridor A-2.
Parks Bond
The $59 million parks bond was a little closer, passing with 59.89% in favor and 40.11% opposed.
Since the parks bond passed, the county can sell bonds for park and recreational purposes, pedestrian trails and bike trails. One specifically listed Taylor project is putting a cover on the west side of the Expo Center.
The bond package is the largest in Williamson County history.
OTHER PROPOSITIONS
Proposition 13
Proposition 13 was the one amendment rejected by Texas voters. It would have increased the mandatory retirement age for state judges from 75 to 79 and boosted the minimum retirement age for Texas judges from 70 to 75.
For: 32.08% Against: 67.92% Proposition 10 This exempts medical or biomedical manufacturers from being taxed on their equipment which lowers the amount school districts took in for their property taxes. This amendment was ultimately approved, but Williamson County voters were against it as a whole.
For: 46.58% Against: 53.42% Proposition 1
Approved by Texas voters, this proposition seeks to protect landowners’ right to farm, ranch, produce timber and manage wildlife on their property.
For: 69.45% Against 30.55 % Proposition 2
This second proposition allows the state to exempt child-care facilities from property taxes and grants the legislature the ability to define what parameters have to be met to be considered a child-care facility.
For: 64.08% Against: 35.92 % Proposition 3
This amendment prohibits the state from instituting a wealth tax.
For: 60.74% Against: 39.26% Proposition 4
The proposition allows the $18 billion tax cut to be put into action and raises the homestead exemption, which essentially lowers what a homeowner’s property is valued as for tax purposes, from $40,000 to $100,000.
For: 82.40% Against 17.60% Proposition 5
This sets up the Texas University Fund that will provide a total of $3.9 billion to Texas Tech University, Texas State University, the University of Houston and the University of North Texas for research.
For: 62.40% Against: 37.60% Proposition 6
This proposition creates the Texas Water Fund, which brings about $1 billion for improvements to water infrastructure.
For: 79% Against: 21% Proposition 7
This establishes the Texas Energy Fund, which will be used to support the construction, maintenance and upgrades to electric generation facilities.
For: 59.47% Against: 40.53% Proposition 8
This proposition sets up the Broadband Infrastructure Fund, which will be used to improve telecommunication service capabilities.
For: 68.17% Against: 31.83% Proposition 9
This proposition allows the Texas Legislature to move money, about $3.35 billion, from the general fund to the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.
For: 81.11% Against: 18.89% Proposition 14
This proposition sets up about a $1 billion fund for the creation and improvement of skate parks in the state, which is called the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund.
For: 75.36% Against: 24.64 %
