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Sunset Review Process Continues

The Sunset review process for TPWD is proceeding on schedule. On Monday, November 3, an exit interview will be held with TPWD leadership. The Sunset staff report is expected to be published soon after and a public hearing before the Sunset Commission is scheduled for Monday, December 15th. The decision meeting of the Sunset Commission is scheduled on January 14th. After that meeting legislation will be drafted for consideration by the Legislature.

SAO Audit Update

Progress is continuing to be made in addressing recommendations from the March 2007 State Auditor's Office report about Texas Parks and Wildlife's financial processes in state parks. Of the 48 recommendations made in the report, all but 2 of them have been addressed. The update on the Land and Water Resource Conservation and Recreation Plan is on track to be completed by 2010. The recommendation to complete development of a zero-based budget is in process. A large amount of staff time has been devoted to identifying the diversity of tasks performed by all state park employees, which will provide the background data necessary to complete this assignment.

Sporting Goods Sales Tax Committee Meeting Held in Austin

The Joint Committee on the Use of the Sales Tax on Sporting Goods met last week in Austin at the Capitol. Sen. Kip Averitt, chair of the Senate Natural Resources Committee, and Rep. Harvey Hilderbran, chair of the House Committee on Culture, Recreation & Tourism, are joint presiding officers of the task force. The committee heard invited testimony from GLO Commissioner Jerry Patterson, Texas Historical Commission Chairman John Nau and TPWD Executive Director Carter Smith. LBB analyst Zelma Smith and Senior Revenue Analyst Eric Stearns from the State Comptroller’s office were also invited to testify. The committee then heard public testimony from 11 organizations and individuals, all who expressed support for parks. The task force was created by House Bill 12, passed during the last legislative session. As directed by the legislation, the task force will review the definition of "sporting goods" in the state Tax Code. It will also determine the amount of state sales tax revenue that must be generated from the sale of "sporting goods" to fund state parks, local parks, historic sites, coastal management programs and water planning. The committee will meet again before the end of the year and a final report is required no later than Dec. 15, 2008.