TPWD 2016-2017 Legislative Appropriations Facts

June 11, 2015

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Legislative Appropriations Request (LAR) for 2016-2017 included a biennial (two-year) base funding request of $575.1 million/ 3,109.2 full-time equivalent (FTE) employee positions in each year, plus exceptional items requesting additional funding totaling $201.6 million/66 FTEs, for a total request of $776.7 million/3,175.2 FTEs. The General Appropriations Act of the 84th Texas Legislature ultimately approved a total TPWD budget of $720.4 million and 3,141.2 FTEs (not including adjustments in Article IX, which may change final amounts). Specific exceptional items and amounts approved by the legislature are shown below. All figures are two-year biennial totals.

STATE PARK OPERATIONS

REQUEST: $25.3 million/39 FTEs         OUTCOME:  $14.7 million/6 FTEs

LAW ENFORCEMENT

REQUEST: $17.4 million.         OUTCOME: $1.7 million

FISH AND WILDLIFE INITIATIVES

REQUEST: $18.9 million/9 FTEs            OUTCOME: $5.7 million/7 FTEs

AGENCY MODERNIZATION

REQUEST: $82.4 million/18 FTEs         OUTCOME: $69.3 million/0 FTEs

LOCAL PARKS GRANTS

REQUEST: $14.1 million          OUTCOME: $15.8 million

This item sought Sporting Goods Sales Tax (SGST) funding to support the outdoor/indoor recreational needs of local governments.  In combination with amounts already in the base, this would provide SGST funding for local park grants at historic funding levels ($31 million over the biennium).

BATTLESHIP TEXAS

REQUEST: $25 million              OUTCOME: $25 million

This is to complete the balance of known critical repair items.

OUTDOOR/NATURE TOURISM AND RECREATION

REQUEST: $18.5 million          OUTCOME: $12.5 million

This will provide $3.5 million to develop and construct a Visitor’s Center at Franklin Mountains State Park, and $9 million for the Texas State Aquarium for capital improvement projects.

The Conference Committee also approved the following additional items :