JPs to adhere to new law, more training and certifications
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Burnet County Elections Administrator Doug Ferguson gives Burnet County Commissioners an update on the upcoming statewide amendment election. Seated, from left, are Pct. 1 Commissioner Jim Luther and Pct. 2 Commissioner Damon Beierle. Raymond V. Whelan/The Highlander
During its March 8 meeting, the County Commissioners approved voting precincts for the upcoming state constitution amendment elections.
The state-wide amendment election is scheduled for May 7, County Elections Administrator Doug Ferguson said during the meeting.
“It is an unusual event,” Ferguson told the commissioners. “I have never seen it (an amendment election in May) during all of my years.”
Two proposals will appear on ballots during the amendment election.
Proposition 1 will decide whether the legislature may reduce the limitation on taxes on homesteads owned by disabled or elderly people for elementary and secondary public schools.
Proposition 2 will decide whether the amount of a homestead tax exemption for public schools can be increased from $25,000 to $40,000.
The commissioners approved two locations for early voting during the amendment election: Burnet, the AgriLife Auditorium, 607 N. Vandeveer and Marble Falls, the Courthouse South Annex, 810 Steve Hawkins Parkway.
Early voting for the amendment election is April 25 through May 3, no weekends, voting hours yet to be determined.
The same sites in Burnet and Marble Falls will open for the amendment election during May 7, also in Bertram, Joann Cole Mitte Memorial Library, 170 N. Gabriel; Briggs, the Community Center, 215 Loop 308; and Granite Shoals, the Community Center, 1208 N. Phillips Road and Grace United Methodist Church, 4007 Valley View.
Also during the meeting, the commissioners heard county justice of the peace officers plea for help related to the Damon Allen Act (Senate Bill 6) recently passed by the legislature.
The act authorizes the state public safety report system to collect and distribute more data to assist justices before they impose bail amounts on offenders.
Burnet County Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 Roxanne Nelson pointed out the act goes into effect April 1.
“The intent of the law is admirable,” Nelson added.
However, following the new law will require the justices to undergo additional training, certification and inefficient and in some cases, duplication of procedures which may hamper, rather than help the justices as they perform their duties, Nelson told the commissioners.
“It (the new law) is going to add time to someone’s busy day,” Nelson said. “The state didn’t think through it. There are a whole lot of holes to what they (state legislators) want to do.”
County Attorney Eddie Arredondo agreed.
“There is no way they (the justices) will be able to keep up with things,” Arredondo told the commissioners.
Sheriff Calvin Boyd also agreed.
“Logistically (the new law) is a nightmare,” Boyd said.
County Judge James Oakley suggested the justices could share their concerns with Texas Representative District 20 Terry Wilson.
“I’ll get with you, and we’ll give (Wilson) a call,” Oakley told Nelson.
“We will do what we have to do.”