Please support HB 323 and put this bill on the floor for a vote. We need help in fighting forced annexation by money hungry cities. Texas law allows municipalities to annex new territory over the objections of the affected landowners and even of citizens within those cities. An amendment to state law can remedy this injustice by requiring two simultaneous (city funded) elections be held so that municipal annexations can happen only by a majority vote of the people being annexed and of the voters in the cities doing the annexation.

        All we ask for is the right to vote on being forced into a city. We should have the right to vote on which city we would like to be become citizens in. My area borders another city which we would rather be members of if we have the choice. We need this choice, "The right to vote on Annexation". If we can help give the citizens of Iraq the right to vote, why can't we have the same right to vote on "Forced Annexation". For the past several weeks news stations and newspapers in North Texas (WFAA channel 8 and the Ft Worth Star-Telegram) have told stories of flooding problems, streets that are crumbling, streets that cannot handle the terrific and etc. Forced Annexation is not the answer for solving a cities problems, cities need smart growth policies.

• <<Annexation Objections.rtf>>
  <<Annexation policy .doc>>

Thank You
James D. Manuel
F/A-22 Raptor
QA Analyst
Ft Worth, Texas
817-439-0780 Hm#
817-763-0923 Wk#