The proposed constitutional amendments for September 2003 had a total of 22 propositions this year. The Texas Legislature has tried to amend the Texas Constitution 587 times. The Texans people have said “NO” 177 times to the Texas constitution. Now, Texans are being asked to vote for or against twenty-two constitutional Amendments.

I chose to address proposition three because I have an interest in this issue. I attend church on a regular basis, I was not aware of how the churches are affected by and or protected by the government in regards to taxes.

The ballot proposal reads: “The constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to Exempt from ad valorem taxation property owned by a religious organization that is leased for use as a school or that is owned with the intent of expanding or constructing a religious facility.”

Proponents of the amendment argue that the first exemption would relieve an unfair burden on churches that are planning for future expansion, and that the second exemption would eliminate an unfair disti

If the state is serious about promoting alternative means of education, all property owners, not only churches and religious organizations, who lease to schools should receive the tax exemption that Proposition 3 would authorize.

To qualify for an exemption, a religious organization must engage primarily in religious worship or promote individual spiritual development; operate in a way that does not result in accrual of profit or realization of private gains; and uses the organization’s assets for religious functions. Tax-exempt property may be used occasionally for secular purposes if any derived income is spent exclusively on maintaining and developing the property as a place of worship.

Proposition three would allow the Legislature to address this problem directly through the enabling legislation, also it will create an exemption for this type of church property with specific time limits, depending on its contiguity with existing places of worship. Church officials would have to state in writing their intent to use undeveloped land, and the exemption could not be extended indefinitely. Sanctions including five year’s Worth of back taxes would be imposed on exempt property that was sold or transferred, with some exceptions.

The enabling law would require a church to submit a written statement stating the organization’s intent to develop the property as a church, and would impose sanctions on churches that sold or transferred their property rather than developing it. The amendment would also allow a religious organization to receive an exemption for property that it leases out for use as a school.

Some topics in this essay:
Regardless Worthiness, Resolution Evolution, Darwin’s Wallace’s, Ed Montgomery, Tax Code, Texas Constitution, , Charles Darwin, religious organizations, Alfred Wallace, President Proposition, tax exemptions, religious organization, earth’s atmosphere, natural selection, owned religious, churches religious, property owners, churches religious organizations, religious worship, exemptions property, earth’s atmosphere formed, owned religious organizations, intent develop property, land owned religious,