In addition to the 14 constitutional amendments all Texans will be asked to vote on, Southeast Texans will see a myriad of city, schools and other tax rate increases.
Port Neches voters may even see a few candidate-led races.
We’re breaking down our local ballot items here:
Jefferson County
City of Nome
Proposition A — “The adoption of a local sales and use tax in the City of Nome, Texas at the rate of 1.50%. This is an increase of 0.50% from the existing 1.00%.”
Currently, the sales and use tax rate in the Nome is 7.75%. This includes the sales and use tax of 6.25% for the state of Texas, 0.5% for Jefferson County and the city’s 1%, according to the ordinance.
The increase would bring sales tax in Nome to 8.25%, the maximum combined tax rate in Texas.
City of Port Neches
Proposition A — “The reauthorization of a local sales and use tax in the City of Port Neches at the rate of one-fourth of one percent (.25%) to continue providing revenue for maintenance and repair of municipal streets. The tax expires on the fourth anniversary of the date of this election unless the imposition of the tax is reauthorized.”
If passed, the proposition will reauthorize a 0.25% sales and use tax for maintenance and repair of municipal streets.
“It’s not an increase, it just takes a portion of the sales tax,” City Secretary HollyAlexander said. “It’s already in place and it’s just reauthorizing the tax.”
The tax was originally passed in 2019 to last four years. Previously, 0.5% of sales tax went to economic development. The 2019 election decreased that to 0.25% and used the other 0.25% for streets.
Port Neches City Council Place 3 — Mike Beaty or Jim Wallace
The election features Mike Beaty and Jim Wallace running for the office currently occupied by John Davenport.
Wallace is a retired BCSP Operator ExxonMobil Chemical Plant.
He is running on platform Port Neches’ residents, and what will most benefit them, as a guiding light when making city decisions, according to the Jim Wallace – Candidate Port Neches City Council Place 3 Facebook page.
“My family, church community and friends have been very supportive to reassure that I will be instrumental in meeting the needs of this position for our wonderful city,” Wallace said on his Facebook campaign page. “I intend to faithfully serve and uphold standards of the City Council for our city of Port Neches.”
“The citizens of Port Neches deserve a Place 3 City Council member who will represent and work for what is best for the entire city, not just a select few groups or entities,” the Facebook page states. “If you want a representative who will always stand up for whatever is best for the entire community and who is not beholden to any special interests, then Mike Beaty is the man you need to support for the City Council election.”
Port Neches-Groves Independent School District
School Board Trustee Place 6 — Brenda Duhon or Melanie Plaia Miller
Brenda Duhon and Melanie Plaia Miller are running for the three-year position currently occupied by Dallon James.
Duhon retired from the district in 2021 after serving in several positions over 30 years, starting as a high school business teacher and ending as the assistant superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction/Technology, according to Duhon’s campaign website.
“I am dedicated to ensuring that every student at (Port Neches-Groves ISD) has opportunities for success and am committed to putting students first,” Duhon said on her campaign page. “My experience at (Port Neches-Groves ISD)provided me an understanding of many facets of the school district which uniquely prepares me for the role of a (Port Neches-Groves ISD) school board member.”
Miller previously served as the Place 4 Trustee, a position she was first elected to in 2010 after defeating then incumbent Gary Stretcher, according to Enterprise archives.
School Board Trustee Place 7 — Jake Lefort or Jordyn Collida
The election features incumbent Jake Lefort and challenger Jordyn Collida, who are both running for the three-year position.
Lefort has served two terms in the position.
Lefort’s on social media states that if reelected, he will do his best to ensure that the district’s standards remain high to provide the best education and atmosphere for the students.
“Every decision that I make will be one that helps further the success of our children, teachers and the success of the community that I love,” Lefort said on his Facebook page. “I stand up for our teachers, students and our mascot and traditions.I will always be responsive and listen to all constituents.”
As the owner and director of Building Blocks Head Start Academy of Groves, Collida started her career in an early education classroom, according to Jordyn Collida – PNG ISD Parent’s Voice Facebook page.
On the page, Collida said she believes her experience and knowledge is a unique asset that the school board has not had before.
“I have taught a classroom full of little minds and have seen first hand how no two students learn the same or have the same needs,” Collida said on the Facebook page. “I have seen first hand that teachers don’t just teach their class but they lead and mold the literal future. Teachers are the backbone to not just (Port Neches-Groves) but to any community and deserve more.”
Sabine Pass Independent School District
Proposition A — “Ratifying the ad valorem tax rate of $1.05135 per $100 valuation in Sabine Pass Independent School District for the current year, a rate that will result in an increase of 4.48 percent in maintenance and operations tax revenue for the District for the current year as compared to the preceding year, which is an additional $681,590.”
The rate is comprised of a maintenance and operations tax rate of $0.76800 per $100 and a debt service tax rate of $0.28335 per $100 of such taxable
assessed value. Both are rates set annually by the district’s Board.
“(The) combined tax rate of $1.05135 represents an increase of approximately $681,590 in maintenance and operations tax revenue to the District in the 2023-2024 school year (and a potentially larger amount annually thereafter), which is approximately 4.48 percent higher than the amount of maintenance and operations tax revenue collected in the preceding year,” the Notice of Election states.
Jefferson County Water Control and Improvement District 10
Proposition A — “The issuance of $3,700,000 of Jefferson County Water Control & Improvement District No. 10 unlimited tax bonds and levying the tax to pay the principal of and interest on said bonds to pay for and finance the design, construction and equipping of the wastewater collection, transportation and treatment facilities of the district.”
The Jefferson County Water Control and Improvement District 10 is looking for voters to approve $3.7 million in tax bonds for the finance, design and equipping of wastewater collection, transportation and treatment facilities in the district.
The board of directors decided the best option for the district was to move its treated wastewater into the Neches River. For over 60 years, the water has been discharged into the Rodair Gully, which the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has classified an impaired stream, Jefferson County Water Control and Improvement District 10 General Manager Tommy McDonald said.
The overall project to relocate the wastewater discharge to the Neches River will cost an estimated $9.7 million and includes a disinfection basin, a pump station and a two-mile force main pipeline.
Jefferson County has given a $6 million grant from its federal COVID Recovery and American Rescue Plan Act funds to the district for the project, McDonald said. However, the district has to finance the remaining $3.7 million, which is what voters will be decide on in the proposition.
“If we raise the water rates, I think on a 2,000 gallon bill, which is pretty minimum, it’s roughly going to go up $15 per month,” McDonald said. “If it’s a 5,000 gallon water bill, it will go up $25 per month and so on.”
The tax bond would come out to an increase of about $59.08 a year per $100,000 of property valuation.
The water district is an unincorporated area between U.S. 69 and Texas 347 between the Beaumont and Nederland city limits.
Hardin County
Hardin County Emergency Service District No. 3
Proposition A –“The adoption of a local sales and use tax in the Hardin County Emergency Services District #3 at the rate of two percent, excluding any area of the district where a local sales and use is already imposed at a rate of two percent.”
Hardin County Emergency Service District No. 7
Proposition A — “Confirmation of the creation of the Hardin County Emergency Service District No. 7 and authorization of the levy of a tax not to exceed the rate allowed by section 48-E , Article III, Texas Constitution which provides for the levy of a tax not to exceed five (5) cents on each $100.00 valuataion of ad valorem property situated in the situated in the district.”
The passing of the proposition would create Hardin County Emergency Service District No. 7 in the Thicket Votaw area. This would turn the Votaw-Thicket Volunteer Fire Department into its own emergency service district.
In addition, the proposition would raise property tax 5 cents on every $100 of value in the area.
Orange County
City of West Orange
Proposition A — “To adopt a sales and use tax at the rate of one-fourth of one percent for the promotion and development of new and expanded business enterprises and to undertake projects as described in Chapters 501 and 505 of the Texas Local Government Code (The Development Corporation Act), as amended.”
Within the proposition, a sales and use tax of 0.25% would be adapted in the city of West Orange for a special economic development corporation.
The tax would be used for promotion and development of new expanded business enterprises. It is a type B economic development corporation which can use money for recreational community facilities, affordable housing projects, water supply of conservation, business enterprises that can create or retain jobs, business development and more.
Little Cypress-Mauriceville Consolidated Independent School District
Proposition A — “Ratifying the ad valorem tax rate of $1.0612 in the Little Cypress-Mauriceville Consolidated Independent School District for the current year, a rate that will result in an increase of 8.81 percent in maintenance and operations tax revenue for the district for the current year as compared to the preceding year, which is an additional $922,179.”
If passed, the proposition will enact a $1.0612 per $100 of value tax rate in the school district for the current year.
The tax will bring an increase of 8.81% in money brought in over last year, a total increase of $922,179.
It is a tax ratification election, which is used for smaller districts, and would give the district more money from Austin, which it can use for safety, security and to raise salaries.