COLDSPRING — A bid by the Coldspring-Oakhurst CISD for $45 million in bonds for renovations and upgrades was denied by San Jacinto County voters on Tuesday.
Unofficial results show that 1,042 votes, or 40.88 percent, were cast in favor of issuing the bonds, while 1,507 votes, or 59.12 percent, were cast against the measure.
According to a press release from the district, while the vote wasn’t the outcome hoped for, the district is grateful to everyone who supported the vision for COCISD students.
“What remains unchanged is our unwavering commitment to our students,” the release states. “Improving academic outcomes and providing an excellent education for every student will always be our top priority. We will continue the exceptional work happening in our classrooms every day, supported by our dedicated teachers and staff.”
District leaders will take time in the coming weeks to reflect on community feedback and determine the best path forward, it states.
The vote totals remain unofficial until canvassed by the COCISD Board of Trustees.
•In the race for three positions on the city of Shepherd Board of Alderman, incumbent Curtis Ainsworth, incumbent Ray Marrs, and Margaret Williams won seats.
Incumbent Mayor Pro Tem Charles Mark Porter was not re-elected.
The unofficial votes were Ben Cartright, 30; Jamie Trevathan, 13; Ainsworth, 84; Karl Carr, 52; Williams, 68; Ray Marrs, 80; Lisa Almazan (Stockwell), 27; and Porter, 65.
•San Jacinto County voters mirrored the state in their support of the 17 constitutional amendments on the ballot.
Proposition 1 — providing for the creation of the permanent technical institution infrastructure fund and the available workforce education fund to support the capital needs of educational programs offered by the Texas State Technical College System. SJC totals: 2,364 for, 1,272 against. State totals: 2,041,859 for, 916,217 against.
Proposition 2 — prohibiting the imposition of a tax on the realized or unrealized capital gains of an individual, family, estate, or trust. SJC totals: 3,114 for, 531 against. State totals: 1,937,917 for, 1,026,718 against.
Proposition 3 — requiring the denial of bail under certain circumstances to persons accused of certain offenses punishable as a felony. SJC totals: 3,051 for, 593 against. State totals: 1,809,465 for, 1,150,122 against.
Proposition 4 — to dedicate a portion of the revenue derived from state sales and use taxes to the Texas water fund and to provide for the allocation and use of that revenue. SJC totals: 2,325 for, 1,291 against. State totals: 2,077,449 for, 872,670 against.
Proposition 5 — authorizing the legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation tangible personal property consisting of animal feed held by the owner of the property for sale at retail. SJC totals: 2,969 for, 874 against. State totals: 1,847,664 for, 1,057,001 against.
Proposition 6 — prohibiting the legislature from enacting a law imposing an occupation tax on certain entities that enter into transactions conveying securities or imposing a tax on certain securities transactions. SJC totals: 2,679 for, 874 against. State totals: 1,588,054 for, 1,306,101 against.
Proposition 7 — authorizing the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of all or part of the market value of the residence homestead of the surviving spouse of a veteran who died as a result of a condition or disease that is presumed under federal law to have been service-connected. SJC totals: 3,361 for, 270 against. State totals: 2,542,959 for, 405,386 against.
Proposition 8 — to prohibit the legislature from imposing death taxes applicable to a decedent's property or the transfer of an estate, inheritance, legacy, succession, or gift. SJC totals: 3,275 for, 377 against. State totals: 2,140,379 for, 823,406 against.
Proposition 9 — to authorize the legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation a portion of the market value of tangible personal property a person owns that is held or used for the production of income. SJC totals: 2,989 for, 613 against. State totals: 1,896,300 for, 1,019,501 against.
Proposition 10 — to authorize the legislature to provide for a temporary exemption from ad valorem taxation of the appraised value of an improvement to a residence homestead that is completely destroyed by a fire. SJC totals: 3,402 for, 233 against. State totals: 2,632,027 for, 315,875 against.
Proposition 11 — authorizing the legislature to increase the amount of the exemption from ad valorem taxation by a school district of the market value of the residence homestead of a person who is elderly or disabled. SJC totals: 3,165 for, 477 against. State totals: 2,294,314 for, 659,066 against.
Proposition 12 — regarding the membership of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, the membership of the tribunal to review the commission's recommendations, and the authority of the commission, the tribunal, and the Texas Supreme Court to more effectively sanction judges and justices for judicial misconduct. SJC totals: 2,978 for, 591 against. State totals: 1,796,384 for, 1,105,659 against.
Proposition 13 — to increase the amount of the exemption of residence homesteads from ad valorem taxation by a school district from $100,000 to $140,000. SJC totals: 3,330 for, 322 against. State totals: 2,348,815 for, 609,203 against.
Proposition 14 — providing for the establishment of the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, establishing the Dementia Prevention and Research Fund to provide money for research on and prevention and treatment of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and related disorders in this state, and transferring to that fund $3 billion from state general revenue. SJC totals: 2,274 for, 1,326 against. State totals: 2,016,281 for, 924,001 against.
Proposition 15 — affirming that parents are the primary decision makers for their children. SJC totals: 3,280 for, 362 against. State totals: 2,065,714 for, 890,983 against.
Proposition 16 — clarifying that a voter must be a United States citizen. SJC totals: 3,393 for, 260 against. State totals: 2,132,473 for, 831,308 against.
Proposition 17 — to authorize the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of the amount of the market value of real property located in a county that borders the United Mexican States that arises from the installation or construction on the property of border security infrastructure and related improvements. SJC totals: 2,984 for, 596 against. State totals: 1,668,285 for, 1,237,102 against.
