Upcoming election features items of local interest

Cedar Hill, Coppell, Grand Prairie, Irving—Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, is Election Day, and millions of voters will go to the polls to pick the next President of the United States. However, this election isn’t just about who will be at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue for the next four years; there are plenty of other items on the ballot, including some of local interest. 

In Irving, Proposition A is on the ballot. A yes vote would allow Irving firefighters to collectively bargain if a majority of affected employees favor being represented by an employee association. The measure also maintains prohibitions and penalties for firefighters engaging in a strike or a lockout. 

A no vote opposes allowing firefighters to engage in collective bargaining should a majority of affected employees favor being represented by an employee association. 

Coppell residents will vote on a potential 3.17 cent tax increase for Coppell Independent School District (CISD)’s Maintenance and Operations (M&O) Tax Rate. If approved, this measure is expected to generate an additional $2.4 million in revenue for the District. 

The CISD tax rate is determined by two components: the M&O, which all operational expenses fall under, and the Interest and Sinking (I&S) Tax Rate, which pays all principal and interest on bonds. The tax rate is currently 18 cents lower than it was for the 2022-23 school year. 

In August, the Coppell ISD Board of Trustees approved a Voter Approved Taxpayer Ratification Election (VATRE), which put the potential tax increase on the November ballot. 

If the tax increase is approved, Coppell residents 65 and older will see no change in their annual property taxes, while average homeowners will pay $163 more per year or $14 a month. 

Coppell voters who reside in Denton County will also be voting for Denton County Sheriff, Denton County Commissioner Precinct 1, and Denton County Constable Precinct 6.

Residents of Cedar Hill, Coppell, and Grand Prairie who live in Dallas County will also vote on Dallas County Commissioner Precinct 1. 

Grand Prairie residents in Tarrant County will also vote on the District Judge for the 213th District, the Criminal District Judge for Court 2, the Tarrant County Sheriff, the Tarrant County Tax Assessor-Collector, the Tarrant County Commissioner for Precincts 1 and 3, and the Tarrant County Constable for Precincts 2 and 7.

Cedar Hill residents residing in Ellis County will also be voting on Judge, County Court at Law No. 3, Ellis County Attorney, Ellis County Sheriff, Ellis County Tax Assessor-Collector, Ellis County Commissioner Precincts 1 and 3, and Ellis County Constable for Precincts 1, 2, 3, and 4. 

For more information, visit www.dallascountyvotes.org, www.votedenton.org, www.co.ellis.tx.us/312/Elections, or www.tarrantcountytx.gov/en/elections.html.