SAN ANTONIO -- Starting Monday, voters will be asked to decide on several proposed amendments to the state constitution.

Three of those proposals deal with issues related to the way properties are appraised and taxed. First up is Proposition 2, which deals with the way tax appraisers value property. Under current state law, appraisers can value a property based on the land around it and for what that land is being used, said Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector Sylvia Romo.

For example, if a new commercial development pops up next to an existing residential development, an appraiser can value that residential property at a higher level to match the value of the land around it, which is known as "highest and best use," said Romo. The practice, while legal, isn't fair to residential property owners, she said.

"A person's residential homestead was being taxed 200 percent to 400 percent higher because all the property around it was commercial high value," said Romo. Under Proposition 2, appraisers could value the property only for what it's actually being used.

"This amendment will allow the property to be appraised based on a residential property value, not the highest value," Romo said.

To prevent developers from snatching up land at a lower value, the amendment would only apply to those property owners who actually live on the property being appraised.

Next up is Proposition 3, which deals with state standards for setting property tax based on the value of the home. Right now, each county interprets the state standards however they see fit. That means a $300,000 home in Bexar County could be taxed higher or lower than a similar home in Travis County. Proposition 3 would level the playing field across the state by establishing and enforcing a uniform method for appraisals.

"The state can come in and say, 'Hey guys, you're not using the standards as set by the state,'" said Romo. "If the the standards aren't followed, the state could force the county to redo all of the appraisals, so it's a fairness issue."

Finally there is Proposition 5, which deals with county appraisal review boards. Under current law, those people appointed to a review board can only hear cases that involve property in their county. Proposition 5 would allow appointed board members to hear cases in more than one county, which would benefit rural counties that often have a difficult time finding people to serve on the boards.

"So what this bill does is it will allow the counties that are adjacent to each other, at their own approval, to join together and have an appraisal review board where they will review those protests from both counties," Romo said.

Romo said she supports each of the amendments because they will help streamline the property tax system and make it more fair for property owners. While the election is on Nov. 3, early voting begins on Oct. 19. A complete explanation of the ballot initiatives can be found on the Texas Secretary of State's Web site.