HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrd 2025-5008_ordering a special election for local sales and use taxORDINANCE 2025-5008
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE, TEXAS,
ORDERING A SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON THE 2ND DAY OF MAY 2026 TO
APPROVE OR DENY THE FOLLOWING PROPOSITION: "THE REAUTHORIZATION
OF THE LOCAL SALES AND USE TAX IN THE CITY OF LA PORTE, TEXAS, AT THE
RATE OF ONE-FOURTH OF ONE PERCENT TO CONTINUE PROVIDING REVENUE
FOR MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF MUNICIPAL STREETS. THE TAX EXPIRES ON
THE FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DATE OF THIS ELECTION UNLESS THE
IMPOSITION OF THE TAX IS REAUTHORIZED."; DESIGNATING THE PLACES AND
MANNER OF HOLDING THE ELECTION; PROVIDING FOR THE POSTING AND
PUBLICATION OF NOTICE; PROVIDING A SAVINGS CLAUSE; PROVIDING AN
OPEN MEETINGS CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE
WHEREAS, The City of La Porte will hold a special election on the May 2, 2026, uniform election
date to approve or deny the following proposition: "The reauthorization of the local sales and use tax
in the City of La Porte, Texas, at the rate of one-fourth of one percent to continue providing revenue
for maintenance and repair of municipal streets. The tax expires on the fourth anniversary of the date
of this election unless the imposition of the tax is reauthorized.".
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA
PORTE, TEXAS, THAT:
SECTION 1. A special municipal election of the City of La Porte, Texas, shall be held between
seven o'clock (7:00) a.m. and seven o'clock (7:00) p.m. on the 2nd day of May, 2026, in the city, for
the purpose of approving or denying the proposition: "The reauthorization of the local sales and use
tax in the City of La Porte, Texas, at the rate of one-fourth of one percent to continue providing
revenue for maintenance and repair of municipal streets. The tax expires on the fourth anniversary of
the date of this election unless the imposition of the tax is reauthorized".
SECTION 2. The City is hereby divided into six (6) election precincts, corresponding to the
boundaries of the six City Council single -member districts. The boundaries of such districts are as
established, defined, and outlined in Ordinance 2023-3943. The polling places for these election
precincts shall be as follows:
Precinct/District
1,2,3,and6
4 and 5
Polling Location
LPISD's ITC Building, 9832 Spencer Highway, La Porte, Texas 77571
City of La Porte City Hall Council Chamber, 604 West Fairmont Parkway, La
Porte, Texas 77571
SECTION 3. This election shall be held in accordance with, and shall be governed by, the election
laws of the State of Texas. The City Council has determined, pursuant to Chapter 271 of the Texas
Election Code, that the City is authorized to enter into a joint election agreement with the La Porte
Independent School District (LPISD) and other participating political subdivisions for this election.
The City Secretary and Mayor are hereby authorized to perform all duties and take all actions as
required by any election services contract(s) and/or joint election agreement(s) that may be authorized
by the City Council.
SECTION 4. Lee Woodward, City Secretary, is appointed as the Early Voting Clerk, and Maria
Lawler, Deputy City Secretary, is appointed as a Deputy Early Voting Clerk, for joint early voting in
person and voting by mail, and the City of La Porte City Hall, City Council Chamber, 604 West
Fairmont Parkway, La Porte, Texas, 77571, is hereby designated as the Main Early Voting Location
for early voting for the election.
Applications for ballot by mail shall be mailed, faxed, emailed, or delivered by common or contract
carrier to:
Lee Woodward, City Secretary
City of La Porte
604 West Fairmont Parkway
La Porte, Texas 77571
Phone: 281-470-5021 Fax: 281-842-3701 Email: CitySecretary@LaPorteTX.gov
City website: LaPorteTX.gov Election webpage: LaPorteTX.gov/Elections or /Elecciones
who shall upon approval of the application provide balloting materials to the voter in accordance with
the Texas Election Code.
An applicant for a ballot to be voted by mail (ABBM or federal postcard application (FPCA)) may
submit the application by delivering it in person to the early voting clerk if the application is submitted
not later than the close of regular business in the clerk's office on Monday, April 20, 2026 (Texas
Election Code Sec. 84.008). The last day for the early voting clerk to receive applications for a
ballot to be voted by mail via mail (regardless of postmarked date), fax, common or contract
carrier, or email, is Monday, April 20, 2026, (Texas Election Code Sec. 84.007(c)). If a voter
submits an application for ballot by mail via fax or email or an FPCA by fax, the early voting clerk
must receive an original or a copy with a wet signature via mail within four business days of the
submission of the fax or email, in accordance with Election Code Sec. 84.007(b-1).
The places at which Early Voting by personal appearance shall be conducted are designated as the
La Porte City Hall, 604 West Fairmont Parkway, La Porte, Texas, (main early voting polling place),
and the Instructional Technology Center (ITC Building), 9832 Spencer Highway, La Porte, Texas,
(branch early voting polling place).
During the lawful early voting period, such Early Voting Clerk shall keep such locations for early
voting open for early voting from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, beginning Monday,
April 20, 2026, and continuing through Tuesday, April 28, 2026.
SECTION 5. Voting at said election, including early voting, shall be by the use of voting machines;
and the ballots of said election shall conform to the Texas Election Code, as amended. The City
Secretary is hereby authorized and directed to obtain, or cause to be obtained, the necessary electronic
tabulating equipment, to arrange for the testing thereof as provided by law and to employ a duly
qualified manager and a duly qualified tabulation supervisor to perform the duties respectively
imposed on them by law with respect to the processing and tabulation of ballots at the Central
Counting Station.
SECTION 6. The City Secretary of the City of La Porte shall issue notice of said election to be
published one time in The Hometown Press, which is hereby found and declared to be a newspaper
of general circulation in said City, not less than ten (10) days nor more than thirty (30) days prior to
the date of the said election; in addition, notice of said election shall be posted on the bulletin board
in City Hall not later than the twenty-first (21 st) day before election day and remain posted thorough
election day.
SECTION 7. The Mayor and/or the City Secretary of the City of La Porte are hereby authorized to
execute and/or issue, for and on behalf of the City, such orders, documents, and forms as may, from
time to time, be promulgated by the Secretary of State of the State of Texas in conjunction with the
election herein ordained.
SECTION 8. Each and every provision, paragraph, sentence, and clause of this ordinance has been
separately considered and passed by the City Council of the City of La Porte, Texas, and each said
provision would have been separately passed without any other provision; and if any provision hereof
shall be ineffective, invalid or unconstitutional, for any cause, it shall not impair or affect the
remaining portion, or any part thereof, but the valid portion shall be in force just as if it had been
passed alone.
SECTION 9. The City Council officially finds, determines, recites, and declares that a sufficient
written notice of the date, hour, place, and subject of this meeting of the City Council was posted at a
place convenient to the public at the City Hall of the City for the time required by law preceding this
meeting, as required by Texas open meetings law, Chapter 551, Texas Government Code; and that
this meeting has been open to the public as required by law at all times during which this ordinance
and the subject matter thereof has been discussed, considered and formally acted upon. The City
Council further ratifies, approves and confirms such written notice and the contents and posting
thereof.
SECTION 10. This ordinance shall be in effect immediately upon its passage and approval.
PASSED AND APPROVED this, the 8th day of December 2025.
ST:
CITY OF LA PO
Rick Helton, ayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Clark T. Askins, City Attorney