Election day is Nov. 5, with early voting starting Monday (Oct. 21), and the ballot includes everything from authorizing horse racing, changing tax rates, approving million dollar school bonds and more.

The Port Arthur News is here to provide a breakdown of ballot items pertaining to Mid- and South County residents, business owners and community members.

 Jefferson County Special Election — Two-part proposition

• Proposition A + B: Legalizing pari-mutuel wagering on horse races and simulcast races in Jefferson County.
  • Pari-Mutuel Waging — Bets are placed together in a specific pool. The house takes a small cut off the top and divides what’s left between the bettors who made the correct collection.
  • Simulcast racing — When two or more tracks, states or governments allow a person to bet on races not at their current track location.

 City of Groves General Election — Wards 1 and 3 up for vote

• Ward 1 — Chris Borne vs. Cindy Kreutzer
  • Chris Borne was previously appointed to this seat after a former councilman lost a recall election in November 2018. Cindy Kreutzer is a newcomer.
• Ward 3 — Sidney Badon Jr. vs. Barbara Edington
  • Sidney Badon Jr. is the incumbent. Badon Jr. is being challenged by Barbara Edington.

 City of Port Neches Special Election — One proposition

• Proposition A: Shall the City of Port Neches be authorized to reduce the Type B economic development sales tax from one-half of one percent (0.50 percent) to one-quarter of one percent (0.25 percent) for the adoption of a local sales and use tax in the City of Port Neches at the rate of one-fourth of one percent (0.25 percent) to provide revenue for maintenance and repair of municipal streets.
  • One quarter of 1 percent of sales tax will go to the PNEDC and the other quarter will go to the street maintenance sales tax.
  • Not a property tax. It is a reallocation of sales tax.
  • Currently, about $140,000 per year is allocated to the streets general fund.

 City of Port Neches General Election — Unopposed candidates declared

• Councilmember Place 1 — Chris McMahon
• Councilmember Place 2 — Adam Anders

Jefferson County Water Control and Improvement District No. 10 Special Election — One proposition

• Authorizing the Jefferson County Water Control and Improvement District No. 10 to levy an ad valorem tax on all taxable property located in the district at a rate of eight ($0.08) cents per one hundred dollars of valuation for the support of fire protection services in the district. 

Sabine Pass ISD — Bond Proposition

• The issuance of bonds in an amount not to exceed $150,000,000 for the construction, acquisition, renovation and equipment of school buildings in the district, including the purchase of school buses, software technology, safety and security equipment, and such other improvements in the district relating to facilities for the purchase of real and personal property including the acquisition, renovation and construction of teacherages, which bonds may be issued in various issues or series shall mature serially or otherwise not more than 40 years from their date. Shall bear interest at such rate or rates not to exceed the maximum rate now or hereafter authorized by law, as shall be determined by the board of trustees be authorized to levy and pledge and cause to be assessed and collected annual ad valorem taxes on all taxable property in the district sufficient without limit as to rate or mount to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds and the cost of any credit agreements authorized in anticipation of, in relation to, or in connection with the bonds.

 Port Neches-Groves ISD — Bond Proposition

• The issuance of $130,000,000 of Port Neches-Groves Independent School District unlimited tax school building bonds and levying the tax in payment thereof to pay for and finance the construction, acquisition and equipping of new elementary schools and the purchase of necessary sites for school buildings.
  • The proposal includes reducing the current seven-count campuses to four by building new elementary schools in each city, two in Groves and two in Port Neches. Each town would have one PreK-Grade 2 campus and one campus in grades 3-5.
  • The maximum tax increase upon the approval of the bond is $0.124 per $100 taxable value. Over 65 Homestead Exemption is not impacted.