Posted on 08/09/2006 7:13:37 PM PDT by Dubya
AUSTIN — Texas state parks need “significantly” more money, Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick said Wednesday, becoming the latest state political figures to signal support for the 600,000-acre system after years of neglect.
Gov. Rick Perry called in July for a funding boost, and Democratic gubernatorial challenger Chris Bell has as well.
A recent report by the Star-Telegram found that chronic funding shortages had resulted in deteriorating sewer systems, inoperable vehicles, leaking roofs and the partial shutdown of one park because of environmental violations.
In a letter Wednesday to the Legislative Budget Board, Craddick, R-Midland, said it’s important to come up with a funding system to ensure the long-term stability of Texas parks. “Due to statewide concerns regarding funding for state parks, I would like to express my support to significantly increase funding for the state park system,” he wrote to budget board deputy director John O’Brien.
Craddick said the Legislature should consider lifting a cap on park revenue from the sales tax on sporting goods. The Legislature dedicated the sporting goods tax to parks in 1993 but later capped the amount for parks at $32 million and then appropriated even smaller amounts.
As a result, state parks now receive about $20 million annually from the $105 million-a-year tax on sporting goods.
“I would like to express my support to significantly increase funding for the state park system by either appropriating a larger amount of money from the state sales tax on sporting goods to parks, or by exploring other options,” said Craddick. “No matter how this is done, the important thing is to make sure our park system has long-term financial stability.”
Craddick said the House will review recommendations from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s State Park Advisory Committee, which is expected to finish a report next week. A draft of the report has suggested that that the system needs $100 million more annually just to maintain the system. That is in addition to the $56 million the state now allocates to parks — mostly through self-generating sources, such as park fees, in addition to the sporting goods tax.
The draft also noted that the state ranks 49th in per capita spending on park operations, and that the state park operating deficit is $6 million to $8 million annually. Those shortfalls have led to layoffs and cutbacks in operations..
George Bristol, a member of the advisory committee crafting the report, said that Craddick’s support is welcome but not surprising. He said that the House speaker had already expressed support for increased spending but that the efforts to follow through got derailed by the school finance overhaul.
“Anytime a speaker states his position this early, you bet it helps,” said Bristol, who also directs the Texas Coalition for Conservation, a nonprofit group. “I think there is a universal recognition that something has to be done. . . . We have had a lot of House members, a lot of senators, and the governor has spoken out. There is growing momentum.”
The Legislature will consider park funding in the next regular session, beginning in January, when it takes up the state’s two-year budget. Craddick has said the only way to lift the cap on the sporting goods tax is through legislative action. R.A. Dyer, (512) 476-4294 rdyer@star-telegram.com
I am SO not worried about Stae Parks right now.
I know Tom Craddick. He's the lowest form of life growing on a cattle pond in West Texas that I've ever met.
To say that I loathe him is an understatement. I am embarrassed that he is a Republican and that he's in charge of the House.
He and I go way back. The details aren't important, but he's not a good man.
tHANKS FOR THE INFO.
State parks are very low on my list.
Ditto, PattonFan.
When TPWD went back and asked the legislature for more money, they were told in no uncertain terms they had to wait until the full legislature was back in session in 2007.
I fail to see the problem.
RINOS best understand that WE understand what is important!
I have no sympathy for state parks. This summer we went to a state park on one of the islands in South Carolina. Drove up to the gate and met the state park poker-faced governess. We informed her we just wanted to check the place out because we like to camp and this park is right on the beach. There was some unholy fee, like $10-$20 just to drive through there...not camp, not set up government housing, just drive through to see if we liked it. I told the governess no thanks, but then wanted to go back and pick a fight with her since I know in my heart I already paid for her stupid park and all I wanted to do was look at it.
Not Kiawah was it? Somehow the "public" beach there is all but available to the public.
Texas has so many places to go besides state parks...especially places where there is water...rivers and lakes.
No, Edisto, same deal as you describe. All BUT public.
How about the state create money making enterprises out of the state parks instead of robbing taxpayers who might never use them ?
Just curious, was it oil business related?
The real question..Cindy plans on donating her land for a park when the "war" ends. Will the lefties then be willing to fund her park? Maybe they will do this free of charge for the citizens.
Yeah, happened to me, too. I went to the gate at the Six Flags amusement park and told them I wanted to just go in and look around to decide if I'd pay and stay the day. They wouldn't let me in without paying the entry fee. The gall and unfairness of those meanies!
Then I went to a movie theater and told them I wanted to go in for free and look around a bit first to decide if I'd pay and stay for the whole movie. They wouldn't let me in, either! The nerve of those mean folks, don't they know who we are?
Then I went to a pro football game, and tried to go in first for free to see if there were any seats I'd like. Get this, they wouldn't let me in without paying either! Don't they know that I paid for that stadium with my tax dollars? You and I are entitled!
Oh, the humanity!
You're just being mean! :-)
Watching a move or a football game for free isn't the same as just asking to look around. Plenty of times I've asked to see a hotel room and checked out the pool before deciding to check in. There's nothing wrong with asking to have a look around the campground before deciding if its a place you'd like to come back to later.
I love your screen name!
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