Will
Republican State Legislature Reign-In
Will
Republican State Legislature Reign-In
North Richland Hills?
by Ron West
Did anyone notice that there were "Referendums" approved in the recent Republican Primary? If there was a way to shout hurray in print this article would do so. Just listen to the language of Referendum 3:
REFERENDUM 3
Every governmental body in Texas should be required to limit any annual increase in spending to the combined increase of population and inflation, except for additional spending authorized by a vote of the people or for official states of emergency declared by the federal or state government.
This wonderful idea was approved by 89.78% of the voters statewide and by 87.34% in Tarrant County. The lower percentage in Tarrant must have been caused by the opposition to this measure by Mayor Trevino and his cohorts on the council that have fought against any limits on their tax increases. They love to "hold the rate" even when required by law to show the very significant increases in taxation by their actions. This measure if enacted by the legislature would address the abuses by the NRH City Council over the last 15 years! It would still allow for modest and reasonable increases in taxation but it would stop the runaway spending that has been experienced in North Richland Hills and other cities.
Maybe the incumbents up for re-election and the other candidates for elective office in NRH would like to express their support or opposition to this heavily favored method of limiting government spending.
The good news goes on with:
REFERENDUM 4
In order to address the inequity of homeowner's property taxes increasing at a rate above the rate of inflation, the current 10 percent cap on the rate of increase of appraised value for all homesteads shall be reduced to 5 percent or less.
Another loud hurray is in order. This measure was favored by 91.9% of voters statewide and 89.14% of voters in Tarrant County. Just think, passage of legislation to reduce the arbitrary annual increases in valuation from 10% to 5% would further crimp the excesses of the current NRH city government.
Finally the referendum that was a bulls-eye against the policies and practices of Mayor Trevino was:
REFERENDUM 2
The Texas Legislature should place on the next constitutional amendment election ballot a proposition to protect private property from being taken for economic purposes.
This measure was approved by 94.11% of voters statewide and by 90.16% in Tarrant County.
If we had not seen Mayor Trevino propose using the power of eminent domain to take the property from one owner of North Hills Mall to transfer it to another owner - possibly illegally - we might not think this had local application. Unfortunately, the majority of the NRH City Council and at least one of the candidates for office seem to fully endorse the overbearing power of local government and their own use of eminent domain to further the building of tax revenue to the city. Great kudos should go to the Republican Party for placing these referendums on the ballot. Public approval shows that voters are both informed and involved in limiting the abusive practices of local governments.
Voters and citizens of North Richland Hills, Texas should be aware that Mayor Trevino and City Manager Cunningham may elect to use tax dollars to lobby against all of the above measures. They have approved a "Legislative Agenda" that will be supported by money to lobbyists to promote the securing of ever more revenue for the city coffers. The "agenda" was not developed by discussions with focus groups or citizens, rather by city staff and the Mayor with emphasis on increasing sources of taxation. One must wonder why the city would be empowered at city level to lobby for a national sales tax on the internet. Maybe they want NRH to tax all internet sales?
Now the real remaining question is whether Mr. Kelly Hancock, our new District 91 State Representative, will work for the heavy majority of the voters in Tarrant County favoring these measures or will he do the bidding of Mayor Trevino and City Manager Cunningham in efforts to derail their passage?