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Hutto voters reject city bond Prop 3; All 11 constitutional amendments pass

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By Patrick Brendel Wednesday, 04 November 2009

State voters approved all 11 proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution on the Nov. 3 ballot, according to unofficial returns from the Texas Secretary of State. Meanwhile, Hutto voters approved six of seven local propositions while rejecting one bond proposition.

City of Hutto election

Faced with seven city propositions on the ballot, Hutto voters approved all but one, rejecting bond Prop 3, which would have authorized $6 million in bonds to build a sports complex. Voters approved $16.8 million in bonds total, including for transportation projects, Fritz Park and a recreation center to be leased to the YMCA.

Hutto voters passed all three amendments to the city charter. The changes include extending the terms of the mayor and city council members from two to three years, disallowing family members of the mayor or council members from being employed by the city, and giving the city insurance against theft by employees who handle money.

Constitutional election

Even the most controversial constitutional amendment--Prop 1, allowing city-owned buffer zones around military bases--passed by a relatively safe margin of 10 percentage points, 55 to 45 percent. The most popular amendment--Prop 11, restricting governments' use of eminent domain--was approved by 81 percent of voters.

Other propositions that passed included amendments concerning a fund for emerging research universities, regulations for property appraisals, Veterans' Land Board bonds, veterans hospitals and the right to access public beaches.

Travis County voters rejected Prop 1, 49 to 51 percent, and overwhelmingly approved Prop 9, which enshrines the Texas Open Beaches Act into the constitution, 81 to 19 percent. Countywide turnout was about 7.3 percent of registered voters. (About 43,000 Travis County voters cast ballots.)

Prop 1 was even less popular in Williamson County, where voters disapproved it 45 to 55 percent. Prop 11 was the most popular amendment in Williamson, passing by a margin of 82 to 18 percent. Countywide turnout was about 8.4 percent. (About 19,000 Williamson County voters cast ballots.) In Harris County, voters approved all the propositions by wide margins. The least popular, Prop 1, passed 60 to 40 percent. The most popular, Prop 9, passed 82 to 18 percent. Countywide turnout was 12 percent, driven by local races, including the contest for Houston mayor. (About 228,000 Harris County voters cast ballots.)