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If you have gotten an email that says something like:

Subject: Texas HOME OWNER FRIENDS .......vote NO
On November 3rd, there will be Propositions 1, 2,  and
3 allowing the State
of Texas to start taxing Residential Homeowners.

DO NOT BELIEVE IT!

I don't know if the misinformation was done on purpose, or if it was just a misinformed person that started the email, but the information in the email is incorrect.

I hope you will take the time to learn what is actually at stake, and not fall into the TLDR crowd (To Long, Didn't Read).

It is actually Propositions 2, 3, 5 and 11 at issue.

You can read the actual propositions here. http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/2009novballotlang.shtml

Prop 2 would force counties to tax based on actual value, not "best and highest use". Currently counties can tax based on what the highest use the land could be used for (IE, commercial if there was no zoning in that county). Voting "Yes" means that the county can only tax you on the use the land was actually put to, at the current market rate. This issue is very important in Places like Houston, that has no zoning. There a home could be only worth say, $75,000, but could be taxed as if it was being used for a profitable industrial site.

Prop 3 would make all counties use the same taxation rules throughout the state, currently they all have different rules. A vote "yes" here only standardizes the methods by which each county appraises and taxes.

Prop 5 would let poorer rural counties to share an appraisal board, rather than each have an independent tax appraisal board. This is a cost saving measure for these counties that adjoin each other.

Prop 11 would put some limits on eminent domain laws to prevent the mall taking that Hurst did. The current rule basically says a municipality, county, or the state can claim eminent domain and take land for "the greater good", not just public works. North East Mall in Hurst, Texas is a prime example of eminent domain gone wrong. There, homes were taken to help build a private commercial mall for profit, not a road, school, park, or other public works.

Prop 1 is nothing to do with any of this. Prop 1 allows municipalities to finance the creation of buffer zones around military bases. This is good for both the military and the citizens. This allows the municipality to tax or seek bonds to finance buying land around military bases to create a buffer zone. The buffer zone reduces noise issues from the base, and allows the base to operate without having neighborhoods spring up around it. And, it lets Texas have at least SOME empty spaces where trees and grass can grow.

If you don't believe me, check out this guys site, he's a realtor and says pretty much the same thing. http://www.texasrealestate.com/web/3/34/index.cfm