Commissioners debate whether referenda represent affected residents
Commissioners split over whether letting voters decide a tax-rate increase is sufficiently representative of those affected; one commissioner cited turnout gaps by housing tenure, income, race and disability, while others defended ballot referral and higher turnout in midterm elections.
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A lengthy exchange at the commissioners court centered on whether a referendum is an adequate mechanism to decide a tax-rate question that affects many nonvoting residents. One commissioner argued that a referendum reflects the composition of the voting electorate rather than the broader affected population and cited national and county turnout disparities by homeownership, income, race and disability.
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