De Leon Free Press (De Leon, Tex.), Vol. 124, No. 16, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 10, 2013 Page: 4 of 12
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Comanche Area Newspapers and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Comanche Public Library.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Information on Proposed Constitutional Amendments
Courtesy of State
Representative J.D. Sheffield
On Nov. 5, Texas voters
will have the opportunity to go
to the polls to decide nine pro-
posed amendments to the Texas
Constitution. This is the first of
several articles providing voters
with information on the pro-
posed amendments. Much of
the following information is
published by the Texas
Legislative Council, a govern-
ment agency that provides non-
partisan research and support to
Weaver Cemetery
Work Day
Come join us Saturday,
Oct. 19, for one last cleaning of
Weaver Cemetery before win-
ter. We will begin restoration of
the 26 markers damaged by the
invading cattle and hogs last
spring. We need to get the
mowing done and clear the
dead brush, etc. (the spring
spraying really did work!) We
will check the fence all around
for any problems. Bring your
hoes, rakes, lawnmowers, weed
eaters, marker repair equipment
and wheel barrows. Also bring
your lunch, drinks and chairs
for a recess followed by a short
business meeting.
From Gorman towards
Michael Berry
Comanche County
Extension Agriculture Agent
Holiday Classic
The Holiday Classic is a
free educational event held
every year in November at the
Bell County Expo in Belton,
Texas. The event offers inten-
sive training to 4-H and FFA
livestock exhibitors. The train-
ing is specie specific for swine,
goats, lambs, and cattle, and
teaches the youth showmanship
and animal husbandry skills.
Training is facilitated by agents
and experts from the livestock
industry. This year’s Holiday
Classic is just around the comer
and set for November 9 and 10.
Saturday’s session will be all
training followed by an excel-
the Texas Legislature. The
wording of the amendment is
followed by a brief analysis.
For more complex issues, a
statement supporting and
opposing passage is also
included. For additional infor-
mation or questions please con-
tact the Office of State
Representative J.D. Sheffield at
(512) 463-0628.
This article covers propo-
sition 6, the financing mecha-
nism for the State Water Plan.
Proposed Constitutional
Amendment 6
DeLeon, at the Gorman city
limit/Eastland-Comanche
county line (at the red caboose)
take CR 479 and follow it to a
“T” and take the road to the
right (there is a Weaver
Cemetery sign there). Follow
that road around to the ceme-
tery.
Donations may be made
by sending your check to
Weaver Cemetery Association,
P.O. Box 304, Gorman, Texas
76454 - or to Prosperity Bank,
115 S. Fisher, Gorman, Texas,
76454.
Hope to see you Saturday,
Oct. 19,2013 at 8 a.m.
lent meal. Sunday will start off
with training and then move on
to a Jackpot Show, giving the
youth an opportunity to show
what they have learned. This is
an excellent event for either
beginning or seasoned live-
stock exhibitors. For more
information please call the
extension office at 325-356-
2539.
Upcoming Dairy Water
Training
Dairymen mark your cal-
endars for Nov. 19, we will
have a Dairy Water Training at
the Comanche Community
Center. The program will cover
groundwater, bacterial tracking,
and Lone Star Healthy Streams.
The program will mn from 10
a.m. until 2 p.m., and lunch will
be provided. There is no
charge, and 3 DOPA credits
will be awarded.
The constitutional amend-
ment providing for the creation
of the State Water
Implementation Fund for Texas
and the State Water
Implementation Revenue Fund
for Texas to assist in the financ-
ing of priority projects in the
state water plan to ensure the
availability of adequate water
resources.
This measure proposes to
amend the Texas Constitution
by creating the State Water
Implementation Fund for Texas
(SWIFT) and the State Water
Implementation Revenue Fund
for Texas (SWIRFT) as special
funds in the state treasury out-
side the general revenue fund to
be administered, without fur-
ther appropriation, by the Texas
Water Development Board and
used for the purpose of imple-
menting the state water plan
adopted by the board.
The Texas Water
Development Board (TWDB)
is required to adopt a state water
plan that provides for the order-
ly development, management,
and conservation of water
resources and preparation for
and response to drought condi-
tions in order that sufficient
water will be available at a rea-
sonable cost to ensure public
health, safety, and welfare, fur-
ther economic development,
and protect the agricultural and
natural resources of the state.
According to the 2012 plan, 8.3
million acre-feet of additional
water supply will be needed by
2060. The plan recommends
562 water management strate-
gies and projects that, if imple-
mented, would provide 9 mil-
lion acre-feet of additional
water supply. The cost of
implementing the recommend-
ed water management strate-
gies and projects is $53 billion.
Municipal water providers are
expected to need nearly $27 bil-
lion in state financial assistance
to implement the strategies rec-
ommended in the plan. Among
the recommendations of the
plan is that the legislature
develop a long-term, afford-
able, and sustainable method to
provide financial assistance for
the implementation of the plan.
This constitutional amendment,
together with two acts of the
83rd Legislature, House Bill 4
and House Bill 1025, seeks to
accomplish that purpose by cre-
ating the SWIFT and SWIRFT
to provide support for financial
assistance provided by the
Texas Water Development
Board for projects included in
the state water plan.
Supporters state that ensur-
ing an adequate water supply is
vital to the public health and con-
tinued economic well-being of
the state. The current ongoing
drought, coupled with the water
needs of the state's growing pop-
ulation, has raised the specter of
critical shortages in the state's
water supply, making it of para-
mount importance that the state
invest in water infrastructure to
ensure Texas' continued prosperi-
ty. If the state's growing water
needs are not addressed, the state
stands to suffer from the loss of
over a million jobs, billions of
dollars in lost income, reduced
economic activity, and decreased
tax revenues in the coming years.
The proposed amendment
establishes the State Water
Implementation Fund for Texas
and the State Water
Implementation Revenue Fund
for Texas, which are to be capi-
talized by a one-time appropria-
tion of $2 billion from the eco-
nomic stabilization fund (Rainy
Day Fund), for the purpose of
financing water projects includ-
ed in the state water plan. Using
money from the economic sta-
bilization fund for water infra-
structure is an appropriate use
of the fund, which was created
as a savings account from
which the legislature can appro-
priate funds as necessary to
respond to emergencies such as
the current drought, and will
provide a better return on
investment than if the money
were left in the fund. Such a use
of money from the fund will
neither harm the state's credit
rating nor hinder the state's abil-
ity to respond to an emergency.
Opponents of the measure
state the economic stabilization
fund should not be used to cap-
italize the two funds to be creat-
ed by the proposed amendment.
Instead, such funding should
come from the general revenue
fund. Drawing down funds
from the economic stabilization
fund to capitalize the two funds
may negatively affect the state's
credit rating and leave the state
inadequately equipped to
respond to future emergencies.
Furthermore, constitutionally
dedicating the money used to
capitalize the These two new
funds are unnecessary as there
already exist two constitutional-
ly dedicated water development
funds as well as several finan-
cial assistance programs for
water infrastructure adminis-
tered by the Texas Water
Development Board. Through
the two new funds, the state
would act like an investment
bank, and it is not the state's role
to be in the commercial invest-
ment banking business.
Financing for local water proj-
ects should be provided not by
the state but by the users bene-
fiting from those projects.
Ciiiuki llviftnk Inkugi
Has a Sale every
Saturday at Noon!!
Hauling is available!
HWY 67/377 East In Comanche, TX • Phone 325-356-5231
Texas Crossword Sponsored by:
F
Est. 1905
Banking with people you know
Member FDIC
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Kestner, Laura. De Leon Free Press (De Leon, Tex.), Vol. 124, No. 16, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 10, 2013, newspaper, October 10, 2013; De Leon, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth787254/m1/4/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Comanche Public Library.