Voters overwhelmingly approve amendments to Texas Constitution

Texas voters overwhelmingly approved seven amendments to the Texas Constitution on Election Day.

One of the bigger amendments that was approved increased the homeowners’ school property tax homestead exemption from $15,000 to $25,000. That would save the average family about $125 a year. It would cost the state a little more than a billion in tax revenue for school districts during the first two years. Lawmakers budgeted extra funding however so schools won’t see any shortfalls at least in the short term.

Other amendments on the ballot that passed include allowing state officials to live outside of Austin and providing extra funds for roads and highways.

For a look at the results on the amendments you can go here.

In Travis County, perhaps the biggest issue on the ballot was new courthouse. Voters were asked to approve nearly $290 million in bonds to build the courthouse that would be on a lot on Fourth Street and Guadalupe across from Republic Square Park.  It was a close vote but 51% of voters in Travis County voted against it.

For a full list of results from Travis County you can go here.

For a full list of results from Williamson County you can go here.