20 state parks could close next year due to funding cuts

[white cloud]

The park system could have struggled through the natural disasters had the Texas Legislature not siphoned off revenue from sales tax on sporting goods earmarked for parks to help balance the state's budget. This is nothing new. For the previous two-year budget cycle, this so-called dedicated fund was projected to generate $236 million. In the end, the amount that remained for parks was a dismal $52.1 million, leaving the state with a falsely-created balanced budget and TPW officials begging for cash.

The upcoming fight for the 2014-15 budget resumes with predictions of no additional funding, which could result in closures. Texas Parks & Wildlife is asking the Legislature to restore $18.9 million and for the return of more than 120 employee positions during the next two years.


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http://www.caller.com/news/2012/dec/22/martin-dies-jr-state-park-in-jasper-provides-an/

[Eleanors38]

1. Problem: >30% of hunt/fish licenses, fees, permits

goes to Texas Parks; the rest goes to general fund. Outdoors people are paying into the whole damned budget. Screwed up government.

[white cloud]

4. Diversion of fund

Federal Pittsman Robert excise taxes 125 million-+
Gate revenue fee?
Hunting license
fishing license
MLP permit fees
Lease permit fee
Federal VAP-HAP money 700,000.00 per year
Athen fish hatcher dedicated money (5 million was divert) and the the project was later on bonded for 7 million and we are still paying for the hatchery again.


All the above (probably 75% of the revenue) is put in the GAO and budgeted out Legis budgeted out about 30 million to op on..

[kimbutgar]

2. Sorry I have to write off Texas it's like a foreign terrorist country.

And this is sad as there are some good people there who are in the minority who are getting steamrolled by the teapartyterrorists.

[Ilsa]

3. It's another way of sticking it to poorer people.

Poorer folks are more likely to use the parks for vacations and recreation (if they have campgrounds), vs blowing $5k going to Disneyworld.

Texas is turning into an industrial park. The leaders don't care about anything but money.

[mbperrin]

5. When legislative thieves steal, they always seem surprised that it's gone.

Has to some sort of willful blindness.

They were called dedicated funds for a reason, but the tea party types could not understand anything that complicated.

Did I just say they were stupid? Yeah, short-sighted, mean, and internally ugly, too.

Oh, and I wish they'd burn in hell. Soon. If there were one.