Why Vote for Prop 4
Pay Now or Pay More Later
The facilities covered in this amendment are in need of maintenance and repair. Delaying this work will result in greater expense down the road.
Health, Security, and Safety At Stake
Some repairs and renovations are necessary for health and environmental reasons -- such as asbestos abatement in state buildings.
Some projects are necessary for homeland security and public safety, including maintenance at readiness centers for emergency response, repairs and maintenance at the Texas National Guard’s Camp Mabry, and Department of Public Safety crime lab expansions.
Provides for construction of a badly needed Texas Youth Commission facility.
Easy Payment Plan
Using bonds to pay for this work allows the state to pay for these projects over an extended period of time.
Why Vote Against Prop 4
Unsupervised Spending
A significant portion of the funds ($300 million) have not yet been allocated to specific projects, giving the legislature and state agencies too much discretion in deciding how to use those funds without public input.
Unnecessary Spending
More prisons are not necessary in light of the current difficulty the state has in staffing existing prison facilities.
Indiscriminate Spending
While some projects are necessary and worthwhile, this amendment lumps together too many diverse projects that should be individually evaluated and offered to voters in separate packages.
Outcome
What do you think? Share your comments about why Texas voters should have voted for or voted against Proposition 4 - Maintenance, Construction Bonds Amendment.