On what state website and where on that website can I find the ballot wording that is suggested or prescribed for a Type B election?
The Texas Municipal League Economic Development Handbook (2015) (Handbook”) is found at:
www.tml.org/p/EconomicDevelopmentHandbook2015_TML.pdf

Below are excerpts from the Handbook that talk about ballot wording on pages 27 and 28.

“Type B Ballot: Current law does not provide any required wording for the ballot for a Type B sales tax for economic development. Before the Development Act was codified, cities would use great care to include wording that described all of the categories of projects that the city would want to have the Type B corporation to pursue. 130 Cities should be sure to have their legal counsel review any proposed ballot wording prior to its use in an election proposition.” Page 27.
A city may limit the use of the Type B tax to a specific project.136 However, as noted earlier, there is no required wording for a Type B tax ballot. Accordingly, there is no special wording that must be used to limit the use of the Type B tax to certain projects. If a city wants to limit the use of Type B tax proceeds to certain projects, it may choose to list only the types or categories of projects it desires on the ballot. Also, the Act provides certain authorization to expand the types of projects undertaken if subsequently approved by the eligible voters.137. Page 28

Further, the Texas Attorney General in Tex. Atty Gen. No. JC-400 (2001) addresses ballot wording regarding the adoption of a 4B sales and use tax. Tex. Atty Gen. No. JC-400 (2001)
The link is:
https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/opinions/opinions/49cornyn/op/2001/pdf/jc0400.pdf

Show All Answers

1. Are there other ways to fund Economic Development?
2. Will approval of a Section 4B Sales Tax make my Property Taxes Increase?
3. Can a Section 4B Sales Tax be used to incentivize retail development?
4. What other ideas did the City Council consider in addition to a Section 4B Sales Tax?
5. Who decides how the money is spent?
6. How could someone apply for Section 4B Funds?
7. What restrictions does the 4B Sales Tax Board have on proposed uses of funds?
8. How many other cities have a Section 4B Sales Tax?
9. Is it proven to be effective in recruiting and/or retaining businesses in a community?
10. What happens if the community doesn’t want a Section 4B Sales Tax anymore?
11. What if the City Council and 4B Sales Tax Board cannot agree on a proposed use of funds?
12. Will the board have a general allocation of the sales tax for use?
13. Will every allocation come before the City Council?
14. If your proposed budget to the City Council had to be made today, what specifically would you recommend to make up for a $625,000 loss in revenue to the General Fund?
15. Will every question and response be posted on the internet site?
16. What is the advantage to a business considering Huntsville over what the City already offers to others?
17. It is my understanding that the Development Corporation is a fully registered corporation which operates independently of the city other than approval (See continuation of question in answer below)
18. Why has the City chosen not to provide a timely copy (written hard copy) of the published website information, one copy to be at the City Secretary Office and another at the City Library?
19. On what state website and where on that website can I find the ballot wording that is suggested or prescribed for a Type B election?