Got this in an email from our state Chapter President and thought I'd share.

From the last Texas Outdoor Partners meeting --Here are the proposed CUTS that the Texas Legislature wants to impose on the Texas Parks and Wildlife for he next two years. Read it carefully and try to understand the IMPACT- it is going to have. I will be going to the Capitol in Austin at least a couple of times to represent us with groups trying to restore some of these "CUTS" to the TPWD budget. In the end it could cost 304 TPWD jobs, also. These are "scary budget cuts".. We are also trying to get some of our Fund 9 stamp money that only belongs to TPWD. The time to use some of this is in crisis. We will press this sissue more than ever before.
BOB LINDER Texas State NWTF Chapter President

From Gene McCarty --TPWD regarding House Bill #1. Senate Bill yet to come.

Here’s the top-line analysis of HB1’s impact on TPWD. As soon as we complete analysis of SB 1, that detail will be shared as well.

· Reduce biennial budget by $162 million (25%)
§ $120 million in FY12
§ $42 million in FY13
· Eliminate 304 FTE in FY12 and 233 FTE in FY13 (which means we would gain back 71 of the positions we lose in FY 12)
§ FY 12 base request - 3175, FY12 HB1 proposal - 2870
§ FY13 base request - 3175, FY13 HB1 proposal – 2941
· Eliminate all new capital equipment purchases
§ Vehicles
§ Boats
§ Computers
§ Computer systems
§ Telecommunication
§ Other equipment



· Eliminate all grants
§ Local Park grants
§ Outreach grants
§ Trail grants
§ LIP grants
§ Shooting range grants
· Eliminate all new capital construction
§ UB only
§ Limitation to UB for fund 9
§ Deferred Battleship Texas, Mother Neff and Palo Duro to FY13
· Eliminate all land acquisition funding
· 15% across-the-board cut to divisional and agency administration budgets
· Eliminate construction based appropriation life for local park grants and LIP grants
· Eliminate escrow account funding
· Reduce Communication divisional funding by $3.4M in FY12 (40%) and $129K in FY13 (2%)
§ Significant reduction (50%) to outreach and education, communication services and the magazine in FY12. Most funding reinstated in FY13
· Reduce Information Technology divisional funding by $1.6M in FY 12 (25%) and $1.4M in FY 13 (22%)
· Reduce State Park divisional funding by $13.6M in FY12 (18%) and $11.2M in FY13 (15%)
§ Transfer or close 7 state parks and 2 state park regional offices
§ Defer minor repairs in state parks for 6 months in FY12
§ Significant reductions in park business development, cultural and natural resources and interpretation and exhibits ($3.9M)
· Reduce Law Enforcement divisional funding by $5.2 M in FY12 (11%) and $4.5M in FY13 (9%)
§ Defer law enforcement training for 6 months in FY12
· Reduce Inland Fisheries divisional funding by $2M in FY12 (12%) and $1.8M in FY13 (11%)
§ Reduce aquatic vegetation control program by $750K in FY12 and $750K in FY13
§ Reduce golden algae containment program by $350K in FY12 and $350K in FY13



· Reduce Coastal Fisheries divisional funding by $1.5M in FY12 (10%) and $1.4M in FY13 (9%)
§ Reduce License Buyback programs - $1M in FY 12 and FY13
· Reduce Wildlife divisional funding by $4.5M in FY12 (18%) and $2.6M in FY13 (11%)
§ Reduce wildlife diversity and research programs by $1M
· Reduce Infrastructure divisional funding by $900K in FY12 and FY13 (15%)
§ This is not the full picture for Infrastructure since a significant amount of the operational funding comes from project budgets,
the elimination of any new project funding will result in additional reductions as current project are completed
· Reduce grant administration funding by 50%

Dangit. Who can we write to about our displeasure in the proposed cuts?

So how many hundred million are the expecting TPWD to HAVE when the cuts are done?

government budgets=taxes

I'm glad that cut are being proposed. I don't think the govt is capable of cutting things too much. Just not possibly.

government budgets=taxes

I support ANY attempt to cut government budgets 'cept for law enforcemnet/GWs.

government budgets=taxes

Wow, how sad to feel so strongly about individuals losing their jobs. Nice going, blame TPWD and not the Legislatures.

Some of the budget cuts will affect public hunting!

i agree with cuts like said above.
the only exception here is that our license fees are supposed to fund TPWD activities and not general state. (at least in most cases) wonder if that is actually happening.

The Legislatures

Wonder if you would agree if your job was on the line? Doubt it.

kyotee. my point is not whether my job is on the line.
sorry if that came across as offensive to any TPWD folks

my point was that we should make certain that funds intended for TPWD are not used elsewhere like they have in the past. then maybe some of these cuts wouldnt be necessary.

as you know i have spent many hours up at TPWD and it is not a spending free for all type place like our federal govt.
tpwd seems to run pretty lean and so these cuts will hurt.

Yes, TPWD is running as lean as any government org I know of.

Kyotee are these numbers in FTE new cuts or sustaining older cuts? I know TPWD is way understaffed right now according to FTE/roster spots anyway.

Chris,

Come on. No one wants folks to loose jobs. I think I mentioned that to you in a previous post.

Times are tough ALL OVER. Private business is cutting back, personal budgets are getting cut back.

Only difference is govt't funding is being supported by the folks who are being fiscally responsible, yet we are expected to let gov't remain irresponsible WITH OUR SUPPORT (money)?

How many HUNDRED MILLION is really necessary to run TPWD?
In reality these cut are more than likely just a good start.


Phish-TX
(Sending his son to school, walking, barefooted in the snow, 'cuz the shoe budget has been cut here at home)

Just like the revenue from the state lottery was supposed to go to education ONLY,instead it goes into the General fund,likewise the money we spend on license fees was supposed to go ONLY to TPWD,now we know the truth.What happened to the 8billion dollar surplus that Dick I mean Rick Perry campained on?Now we have a projected 25billion dollar deficit and what does King Perry want to cut besides TPWD?Education,while we are 49th in dropouts and #1 in incarceration rates .Thank goodness for Mississippi(50th)in education.I"m done now,. my blood pressure meds just kicked in.Thank you for your time.

I didn't vote for that fool.

Rick the __ __ __ __ might need to break into the rainy day fund and make gradual cuts. The state operates way above their means until he wins the governor's election for 4 more years and then he cuts everything to the bone a few months later. If some of our so-called leaders had a nut we might not be in such sorry shape. Rick is afraid he will run out of hairspray is why he needs the rainy day fund to stay under his control.

Problem # 1 is the poor general economy. With the decrease in economic activity we get a corresponding decrease in tax revenues. There are really only two fiscally responsible options - Reduce spending or raise taxes/fees. And raising taxes during an economic slowdown is a recipe for disaster. Even Obama, who I think is dumb as a rock, was smart enough to push for an extension of the Bush era tax rates.

Or we could just borrow a bunch of money and go into debt up to our eyeballs like California or Illinois. But I wouldn't recommend it...

Cuts have to be made everywhere. It's sad to see job losses. I was laid off 3 years ago. We've got to bite the bullet because we've spent and wasted too much in the past. Reality sucks.

Likewise, I don't want anyone to lose his/her job. That being said, there is too much fiscal and resource waste within the TPWD. Too many pet projects funded by money that could be used elsewhere within the department where it may truly be needed. I believe that they could keep a substantial number of employees if they would simply do away with the unessential drains and expenditures and make wise choices with what remains.

Sort of hard for me to agree with we on the spending deal. I do not overspend and I do not vote for anyone that overspends their budget and then hammers down on the people that are the least responsible. You are going to pay on a percentage of these people that are cut anyway. Cut back hours, cut back services, cut back raises, but the people in charge have to become responsible when times are good and when times are bad so that we never get in this shape to start with. Do you think Rick is really going to suffer? I am all for cutting and balancing, but where was this plan when he was running this last time. Do you think he knew about the deficit then? You bite the bullet ALL of the time when you are spending someone else's money. That is the problem with all politicians. They think that your vote gives them a Carte Blanche habit with their money.

Chris when will we know exactly which resolutions are going to be adopted? And for the record you're one guy they need to keep on board. You've never been anything but helpful anytime I've needed assistance.

I agree with you, Texan. Government at all levels has been living in dream land for way too long. If they had to make their money by serving customers in a free and uncoerced exchange like the private sector, things would have been different. Government can never give anything that it has not first taken from someone else. The good news is that in America there is a budget making process that will allow all sides to be vetted.

Here is a thought on a real budget buster:

If the radicals in the ME take over Egypt and shut down the Suez canal, these days will look like a stroll in a park in comparison. It is going to be great when gasoline is six or seven dollars a gallon according to our "Energy Czar" because then all that green (Inefficient and expensive energy for dreamers) will look more affordable.

All of you worried about cutting budgets should be asking your Congressman why the government of Egypt must change RIGHT NOW as opposed to a safer, well thought out transfer of power in legal elections in September as our allies in Egypt has suggested. That makes sense to me. Since when have Americans believed in mob rule?

I think we are being hoodwinked again. I remember all the hype about the Shah of Iran being "a baaaaad man" (The Shah was our ally and had an 800,000 man army on the border of the Soviet Union) and now I am seeing the same hype about Mubarek. Two weeks ago, our news media would have been adressing him as President Mubarek and now they all call him "Dictator Mubarek" that "baaaaad man".

It's still very early and probably won't know for sure for 3-4 months probably.

One option the legislatures had for us was to postpone a program for 6 months, then restart it. This surely wouldn't work for any of the Public Hunting Program opportunites; we don't stop with either one of them (APH or Special Drawing Hunts) since herd data, hunter success, species taken, what will be available next year, additional properties, lease agreements, applications, data entry, Selection notices, permits out to hunters, etc. are just a few tasks that are required.

Both

>>>>
http://alpinedailyplanet.typepad.com/alp...tate-parks.html

Chris, Do you or anyone know where to find TPWD $ from revenue taken in from sales of license, permits, parks fee, Pittman-Robertson act, lease, mld, breeder, commercial fish crab,etc are?

How much goes into the general accounting black hole and how much is budgeted back out to TPWD by Coryn and Perry?

I think you will find that the Outdoors fees & person (Hunting and Fishing etc)is funding this current admins rotten egg defecit by using Hunting and fishing monies to cover shortage they have created.

Maybe you are right. TPWD may not be getting all the funds they should rightfully receive and that money may be going somewhere else. However, don't you think that some of these cutbacks might be a result of their own fiscal mismanagement? Maybe someone in the Legislature recognized this and figured there was too much waste and that they were capable of doing the same with less. Surely, they are not totally blameless. Hopefully, they will find a way to make the necessary cuts while retaining all current employees.

Ha ha ha! When has a legislator ever recognized a more efficient way to spend money