Mold Remediation in Beaumont, TX

Beaumont voters are giving their school district employees a raise.

Unofficial results for Beaumont ISD Proposition A shows 55.81% of the votes, or 20,529 ballots, in favor and 44.19% of the votes, or 16,256 ballots, against a tax rate that would generate $13 million for the district to fund employee raises.

In an election night news release, Beaumont ISD Superintendent Shannon Allen shared her excitement on the proposition’s passage.

“I am thrilled about the successful passage of the Voter-Approved Tax Ratification Election and extend a heartfelt thank you to the Beaumont community for its unwavering support of our schools, students and future,” Allen said in the release. “This community-driven decision is a powerful statement of our shared commitment to building a stronger, safer and more supportive educational environment for every student.”

RELATED: Voter guide: Beaumont ISD asks taxpayers to help fund employee raises

The proposition moves money previously used to pay old school debts into district operation funds. The move is possible through a statewide “penny” system that allows districts to create funds without raising the overall tax rate.

The Beaumont ISD Board of Trustees unanimously approved the new tax rate over the summer to set up the election, citing a need to stay competitive with teacher pay around the region. The board passed at least a 2% raise for all employees but will increase to that to 5% with the approved tax rate.

Allen previously told The Enterprise that she urges voters to consider the impact that raises to teacher salaries would have on students in the classroom.

“We are losing teachers, qualified teachers, who are driving down the road to make more money,” Allen previously said. “Our students deserve the best, and this is a way that we can stay competitive with other districts and give our teachers what they deserve, too.”

RELATED: Southeast Texas election results: 2024 General Election

Beaumont ISD Chief Financial Officer Cheryl Hernandez laid out the specific numbers during a workshop meeting for Tuesday’s tax rate election.

The district is asked taxpayers to vote in favor of a 9 cent increase to the Maintenance and Operations tax. The Interest and Sinking Fund, which is used to pay school debts, would see a tax decrease by the same amount.

By using the state’s “penny” system, the district’s overall tax rate would actually decrease from $0.98410 to $0.96491 in 2024-25, according to information provided by Beaumont ISD.

“With the passage of this VATRE, we can continue to invest in our most important assets — our students,” Allen stated in the release. “Thank you, Beaumont, for standing with our schools, students, and educators, as we work together to shape a stronger future for our district.”

Nov 5, 2024

Environmental and Governmental Policy Reporter

Courtney Pedersen is the environmental and governmental policyreporter for The Beaumont Enterprise. Get in touch with her by email at courtney.pedersen@beaumontenterprise.com.

Find your polling location by county, as well as what you'll need to bring to the polls so that you can vote in November.

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BEAUMONT, Texas — Voters across the state of Texas and the country are heading to the polls on Tuesday to cast a ballot in the 2024 General Election.

If you're wondering where you can vote in Southeast Texas you've come to the right place.

Nearly 100 of Texas' 254 counties now participate in the "County Wide Polling Place Program."

What this means is that in those counties voters can vote on Election Day at ANY voting center in their county.

In Southeast Texas voters in the following counties can vote this way...

If you're registered to vote in one of the above four Southeast Texas counties simply visit ANY polling location in that county to vote.

However, if you're registered to vote in Hardin, Jasper, Newton or Tyler County you must vote at your assigned precinct.

You can check your voter registration Secretary of State website to find out what precinct you vote in.

MORE | Check my voter registration & find my voting precinct

RELATED: VOTER GUIDE | Here’s what you need to know about voting in the general election this Tuesday

Here's where to find all the voting locations for each county in Southeast Texas.

Voting Locations & Sample Ballots

Jefferson County: Voting locations | On the Jefferson County ballot

Orange County: Voting locations | On the Orange County ballot

Hardin County: Voting locations | On the Hardin County ballot

Jasper County: Voting locations | On the Jasper County ballot

Tyler County: Voting locations | On the Tyler County ballot

Newton County: Voting locations | On the Newton County ballot

Liberty County:Voting locations | Sample ballot

Chambers County: Voting locations | On the Chambers County ballot

ELECTION RESULTS: CLICK HERE on November 5 after the polls close at 7 p.m.

Who is eligible to vote?

In Texas, you’re eligible to vote if:

Deadline to send in your mail-in ballot if you signed up for one previously

Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. if the carrier envelope is not postmarked or Nov. 6 if the carrier envelope is postmarked by 7 p.m. at the election location on election day (unless overseas or military voter deadlines apply.

Voter identification you'll need at the polls

Make sure you bring one of these accepted forms of identification with you when you go to vote:

If you don't have one of the above IDs and can't reasonably obtain one you have another option at the polls. Fill out a declaration at the polls describing a reasonable impediment to obtaining one of the above IDs and show a copy or original of one of the following supporting forms of ID:

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As Election Day approaches for presidential, state and local seats, early voting in Jefferson County is set to begin.

Early voting opens Monday and lasts through Nov. 1, with Election Day on Nov. 5.

Orange County

Orange County has four locations open throughout early voting -- three in Orange and one in Vidor.

The four locations are open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 21 through 25, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 26, 1 to 6 p.m. Oct. 27 and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 28 through Nov. 1.

Hardin County

During early voting, Hardin County has an early voting location in Kountze and two temporary branch early voting locations in Silsbee.

The Kountze location is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 21 through 25, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 26, 12 to 6 p.m. Oct. 27 and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 28 through Nov. 1.

The three locations are open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 21 through 25 and Oct. 28 through Nov. 1.

"We're always hopeful," Jefferson County Clerk Roxanne Acosta-Hellberg said. "We want people to come in and take advantage of early voting and have their voices heard."

In addition to the Presidential Election, the ballot in Jefferson County will include a variety of races, including sheriff and tax assessor-collector and a Beaumont ISD proposition.

Currently, Jefferson County has 147,718 registered voters who can take part the election.

"So, 2020 had close to 90,000 voters and early voting was a hit," Acosta-Hellberg said. "We have 115,000 ballots ready for our people to vote."

RELATED: Early voting turnout low in Texas District 21 runoff

Acosta-Hellberg expects early voting to go smooth but reminds individuals to keep their phones in their pockets.

"If you want to make it easy on yourself, bring your ID, get in and out," Acosta-Hellberg said.

Any type of arguments, tensions, altercations or shenanigans will not be tolerated, according to Acosta-Hellberg.

"People that are ... working these elections, they put in a lot of effort," Acosta-Hellberg said. "So, we'd appreciate it if people acknowledge their commitment to the process because they work really, really hard."

Jefferson County has 11 early voting locations -- five in Beaumont, two in Port Arthur, one in China, one in Groves, one in Port Neches and one in Nederland. Any Jefferson County voter can cast a ballot at any of the locations.

The 11 locations are open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 21 through 25, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 26, noon to 6 p.m. Oct. 27 and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 28 through Nov. 1.

Early voting locations in Jefferson County:

"We (are) prepared for a very successful election," Acosta-Hellberg said. "We've used every election as a practice run and we really do not expect to have anything but what we've experienced in the past. We expect it to go very, very smooth and be a great experience."

The Beaumont Enterprise has put together its 2024 Election Guide on a number of local ballot measures, which can be on our website or in Sunday's edition of the newspaper. Candidate responses have been edited lightly for length and clarity.

Oct 19, 2024

Environmental and Governmental Policy Reporter

Courtney Pedersen is the environmental and governmental policyreporter for The Beaumont Enterprise. Get in touch with her by email at courtney.pedersen@beaumontenterprise.com.

Leaders are counting on the new truck stops to boost economic growth as a result of the increased need for truck drivers across Southeast Texas.

BEAUMONT, Texas — Southeast Texas is preparing for major Golden Triangle economic growth along the I-10 corridor as several new truck stops are being built between Beaumont and Orange.

Leaders are counting on the new truck stops to boost the economy as a result of the increased need for truck drivers across Southeast Texas.

12News spoke with Vidor's City Manager to learn more about the economic impact that the new truck stops will have.

Some truck drivers haul heavy loads to and from Southeast Texas industries and ports while others use the I-10 corridor on their way to Houston or Louisiana, stopping to fill up on gas, food and more.

"They're building new truck stops across I-10, across Texas and Louisiana as well," said Lamar State College-Orange CDL Program Director Carl Cormier.

Four new rest stops will soon line I-10 between Beaumont and the state line to give drivers a much needed break.

"So, the growing popularity of places for trucks to be parking, access for fuel, and things of that nature," said Cormier.

Southeast Texas leaders are banking on those big bucks to fuel our economy.

"You're looking at fuel, and then, when there, like I said, we have those restaurants that are in there," said City Manager of Vidor Robbie Hood. "There's merchandise that's being sold, that kind of aims at truckers."

He says the city recently annexed land where one of the truck stops is currently being build.

"So, every dollar that's spent inside the road ranger, the City of Vidor captures sales tax from that, as does the state in Orange County," said Hood.

There's currently a need for more truck drivers in Southeast Texas.

"Southeast Texas is the hub," said Hood. "We have the oil industry, manufacturing industry, and we're a hub not only for that, but for the entire state of Texas, but trucking as well."

Lamar State College-Orange is hoping to meet the need for more truck drivers by training new drivers.

"We have a CDL program that we teach them how to drive trucks, how to get their Class A, Class B driver's license," said Cormier.

New CDL classes start every Monday.

So far, at least one truck stop is scheduled to open at the end of October of this year.

This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.