Prop A ‘Tier 2’ vote on ballot

WAXAHACHIE – Ellis County residents heading to the polls during early voting might want to know a little more about a few special elections and one important county wide proposition on the ballot.

The Tier 2 vote is on the May 4 ballot as Proposition A with voters choosing yes or no to “change your county from a Tier 1 county status to a Tier 2 county status for purposes of municipal annexation as described by Chapter 43 of the Texas Local Government Code.”

Comments at the Facebook page “Stop Forced Annexation” highlight a few residents who are voicing their comments about the Annexation Proposition.

State Representative John Wray wrote, “We are actively trying to stop the FORCED or involuntary annexation of land by cities in Ellis County.”

Another post read “Ellis County residents demand a say in whether to be annexed (absorbed) by local cities. This is why they are stepping up efforts to gather some 15,000 voters’ signatures on a petition to reclassify Ellis as a “Tier 2” county. They want to give voters a choice.

Petitioners acknowledge some residents enjoy the benefits of being part of a city. They point out, however, annexation can bring with it higher taxes, more regulations, ordinances and permitting requirements, plus sewer and utility limitations or expensive infrastructure hookups, which property owners have to pay for out of pocket.”

A third post, “If this bill passes it will save all counties, but everyone needs to remember, our legislature is designed to kill bills not pass them. We need everyone to vote for proposition A in May. A vote for tier 2 is a vote to stop forced annexation. Please don’t stay home during this election.”

Currently as a Tier One city the law gives a city the right to annex if in an Extra Territorial Jurisdiction allowing for a city to either remove a resident or business by giving them either a fair market price for their property or removing them by imminent domain.

If annexed this would not be allowed.

As an example, Ferris has an ETJ of half-a-mile or Red Oak one mile.

Also, when a property is annexed this means the city must offer two services in two years to the annexed property residents.

Other items on the ballot not including City Council and Independent School Board Trustees include a Special Election in Venus determining if that city will adopt a Home Rule Charter as recommended and submitted by the Home Rule Charter Commission of the City of Venus.

The City of Italy is having a Special Election for the reauthorization of the local sales and use tax at the rate of one fourth of one percent to continue providing revenue for maintenance and repair of municipal streets.

Also, an election in Cedar Hill voting for or against Proposition 1 – The legal sale of all alcoholic beverages for off-premise consumption only.