By:  Cook of Colorado                                           H.J.R. No. 97 



A JOINT RESOLUTION

proposing a constitutional amendment to authorize the ad valorem 
taxation of certain property owned by a municipality.
	BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                       
	SECTION 1.   Section 9, Article XI, Texas Constitution, is 
amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 9.  (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b), the
[The] property of counties, cities and towns, owned and held only 
for public purposes, such as public buildings and the sites 
therefor, fire engines and the furniture thereof, and all property 
used, or intended for extinguishing fires, public grounds and all 
other property devoted exclusively to the use and benefit of the 
public shall be exempt from forced sale and from taxation, 
provided, nothing herein shall prevent the enforcement of the 
vendors lien, the mechanics or builders lien, or other liens now 
existing.
	(b)  The legislature by general law may authorize a political 
subdivision of this state to tax real property owned by a city or 
town if the real property is located outside the corporate limits of 
the city or town.
	SECTION 2.   This proposed constitutional amendment shall be 
submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 8, 2005.  
The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the 
proposition:  "The constitutional amendment to authorize the ad 
valorem taxation of real property that is owned by a city or town 
and is located outside the corporate limits of the city or town."