Blog

You Can Vote for Parks on November 5, 2019

Meme_Kids-Access-01-2.png

You Get to Vote! PROTECT TEXAS' NATURAL AREAS, WATER QUALITY, & HISTORY VOTE YES FOR PROP. 5 ON NOV. 5

On November 5, 2019, Texas will hold a Constitutional Amendment election. Prop. 5 is one of 10 propositions that will be on the ballot. Here’s why Prop. 5 is important.

WHY PROP. 5?

This proposition supports State Parks, local parks (through the TPWD Local Parks Grants) Historic Sites, and local outdoor program providers who are awarded TPWD Community Outdoor Outreach Program Grants.

Through use of the Sporting Goods Sales Tax, children and families will have safe and equitable access to parks and programing to play, explore and connect with nature.

In 1993, the Texas Legislature moved to create a consistent funding stream for our state and local parks and historical sites, by designating a portion of the sales taxes collected from the sale of sporting goods, known as the Sporting Goods Sales Tax (SGST). From 1993 to 2017, the state has collected nearly $2.5 billion in revenues from the Sporting Goods Sales Tax, yet only 40 percent has been spent on state and local parks.

Fortunately, the 86th Legislature, with the leadership of State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst and State Rep. John Cyrier, took the opportunity to address this issue and preserve our state and local parks and historic sites for future generations. The near-unanimous passage of SJR 24 this Legislative Session paved the way for Proposition 5 to be placed on the ballot this November.

Prop. 5 is a constitutional dedication of revenue from the existing sales tax, so those dollars can only be used by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Historical Commission on public parks and historic sites, and not for any other purposes. Importantly, Prop. 5 requires no new taxes or fees. A YES vote on Prop. 5 on Nov. 5 will protect Texas' natural areas and historic sites, so we don’t lose the very things that make Texas a special place in which to live.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

October 7 – last day to register to vote October 21—November 1 – early voting November 5, 2019 – Election Day

www.SupportTexasParks.org- There are plenty of social media resources and other resources to on the Support Texas Parks website.

Original: http://www.texaschildreninnature.org/blog/you-can-vote-for-parks-on-november-5-2019