Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN, Texas – (Fort Worth, Texas) – Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association President Pete Bonds made the following statement today after Texas voters approved Proposition 6, a constitutional amendment that will provide for the creation of the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas and the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas. These funds will help finance priority water projects for the state, including rural and agricultural conservation projects.
“Ranchers know firsthand that because of drought, water has been a scarce resource. Proposition 6 is a necessary step in providing a mechanism to help finance our state’s water needs, so we can all can continue to have safe and reliable sources of water,” said Bonds.
“TSCRA has worked hard to ensure that rural areas that support ranching families remain a priority when it comes to water, and Proposition 6 helps accomplish this.”
Bonds says that the passage of Proposition 6 is especially important to rural areas because it offers them a way to seek low interest loans for much needed water projects that they might otherwise not be able to afford.
“Rural Texas communities support agriculture. They provide hospitals, schools and services to those of us who live outside the city limits. We are concerned because there are rural areas all over this state that are in danger of drying up,” said Bonds. “We are confident that Proposition 6 will help these areas to be able to continue to provide a safe and reliable water source for decades to come.”
TSCRA strongly supported Proposition 6 because it helps secure a long term water supply for our communities and businesses for the next 50 years; does so without raising taxes or fees; and sets aside $2 billion in the Rainy Day Fund for priority water project loans, including 10 percent for rural water projects and 20 percent for conservation projects including agricultural water conservation.
