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LAR Submitted

Along with other state agencies, TPWD has submitted its Legislative Appropriations Request for FY ’80-09. TPWD’s base budget totals $409.2 million for the two year biennium. That base budget reflects a ten percent cut, the starting point for all state agency budgets. However, we have also requested another $302.9 million in exceptional items, as listed in priority order below:

1. Restore 10 percent reduction: $14.2 million each year to fund operations and FTEs that might otherwise be eliminated.
2. Additional funding for state parks: $85.4 million each year to provide adequate funding and an additional 262.7 FTEs for state parks and support functions, as recommended by the State Parks Advisory Committee.
3. Proposition 8 General Obligation Bonds: $46 million over the biennium to fund major repair projects. Proposition 8 bonds were approved by voters in 2001.
4. General Revenue (GR) Funding for Game Wardens: $2.6 million each year from general revenue to fund game warden operations. GR funding is requested because game wardens are spending more time on homeland security and other duties unrelated to fish and game law enforcement.
5. Freshwater Stamp Funds: $18.1 million over the biennium from freshwater fish stamp sales to fund construction of the East Texas Fish Hatchery and maintenance and repairs to other hatcheries statewide.
6. Battleship Texas Capital Repairs: $22.5 million to complete construction of a permanent dry berth for the battleship that will be part of a long-term maintenance solution.
7. Texas State Railroad: $11.8 million over the biennium to fully fund operations and initiate needed major repairs at the Texas State Railroad.