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Lar Process Underway

TPWD submitted its FY '08-'09 Legislative Appropriations Request (LAR) to the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) and the Governor's Office of Budget, Planning and Policy (GOBPP) in August as reported in the last edition of this bulletin. After the LAR was submitted, state agencies were given an opportunity to adjust their requests to restore the 10% reductions to incorporate the second year of the salary increase that was not included in the base budget. As a result, TPWD's exceptional item #1 now totals $15.3 each year (up from $14.2 million.) The base budget we submitted totals $409.2 million for the biennium. That base budget reflects a ten percent cut of general revenue related funds, the starting point for all state agency budgets. However, we have also requested another $305.1 million in exceptional items, which brings the total TPWD request to $714.3 million for the biennium.

TPWD presented its LAR at a joint budget hearing of the GOBPP, LBB and oversight offices in September. On October 9th, the LAR was presented to Senate Finance Committee members. Committee members asked questions about state park funding needs, including numerous questions about capital repair needs as they relate to health and safety of state park visitors. Members also had questions about the request for additional funding at the East Texas Fish Hatchery. TPWD staff explained that the initial estimate was made before the cost of construction materials increased as a result of hurricanes Rita and Katrina and before a site was selected in Jasper. The Jasper site has good water availability, which means pond construction will now be increased by more than 30%, which will cost additional dollars but makes the most sense in the long run.

TPWD is continuing its practice of providing regular briefings to legislative staff members. A meeting was held in late September to brief those interested on the LAR and about 30 people attended. TPWD will likely schedule an additional briefing before the end of the year to brief Legislative staff on the rest of the TPWD legislative agenda.