Got this from a friend. Looks like it's gonna be more bare bones than it already was. Hate to see it, but I guess it's hard times for the state.

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%


Sucks, but cuts gotta come from somewhere. Also, this is just proposed not a final draft. Will be interesting to see what comes of it all by this summer.

Wow that looks bleak. I know you said this is a proposal, but is there any indication on which state parks they have on the chopping block?

Funny how we go berserk in one direction and then turn around and go berserk in the other direction. If they had spent money wisely in all phases of government, we wouldn't have this volatility.

Exactly

X2

Wow. Does anyone know if any $$ from license and sporting goods taxes still goes to the general fund or has that stopped?

If not it dang sure needs to.

Where else does the funding for TPWD come from?

Makes me wonder if they'll raise Hunting and Fishing Licenses this year.

i think revenue is 1/3rd state park revenue, 1/3rd license sales, 1/3rd federal and state appropriations. of course those are rough figures.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_bk_a0900_0622_06_04.pdf

Check out Pg 16. for info

It is a good start. I hope to see the rest of the departments cut their budget too.

We can't continue down this road !!!

If they don't cut direct payments to individuals, it's a moot point.

X2

The Legislature/Gov still want the same programs, outreach to the public and same service with less employees and means to do the same amount of work. Remember, the Legislators took back the funding from the Freshwater fishing stamp which was allocated for the new fish hatchery in Jasper along with management throughout the state. And that's only 1 item.

TPWD just went through a 15% budget cut back in August and we're getting another. We'll all see the impact on this one and feel it as well.

Keep your head down Chris.

Good Luck,
PHish

You're telling me!! We supposed to find out more in a meeting on Monday for all employees.

Can you expand on this?

Why don't they consider raising out of state license fees?

I am afraid to ask, but man how much worse can it get??

Don't worry that's next!

What I want to know is the fees and licenses will stay the same or go up, but with all those cuts where is that money going once the proposed cuts are made.

Count on it that they are going somewhere, (salaries, office buildings, or other pet projects) so we will just pay more for less!

You can count on no increase of salaries, that's for sure. TPWD doesn't even have a merit raise system, zero due to all the cuts the past years. We lost merit raises ($50 tops) more than 15 years ago.

There is no increase of license fees even mentioned and that's not on proposal.

You make some hard accusations and if you read the original post, none of what you say in your last sentence is being done or will be done.

I would assume that there is more wasteful spending within TPWD than you are I would care to know.

As there is with any large government (or corporate) entity that grows to large to have proper oversight to see that funds make it from point A directly to point B. May not be an ideal situation, but never forget how blessed we are to be here instead of...well...anywhere else

???????

Yeah, I have no idea what these guys are talking about. Maybe they want TPWD personnel to work for free or simply abolish the organization all together. Strange.

I don't believe anyone is suggesting the above, however, the amount of financial and resource waste, mismanagement, is staggering. A private business could not survive if it was operated in like fashion. Perhaps government entities such as TPWD should be ran by business minded individuals rather than appointees.

There is going to be waste and mismanagement in any government agency but if you look at the TPWD Commission most are very business minded individuals. Peter Holt owns the Spurs and Holt Cat. Dan Friedkin is chairman and CEO of The Friedkin Group and the Bass Family is full of well known businessmen. TPWD is not perfect and never will be because it is impossible to please every single person in a state the size of Texas. I am pleased with the job they have done to give us the hunting and fishing opportunities that we have here. I don't know the numbers but I would bet that the state parks lose a lot of money for the agency because it costs a lot to run them and the entry fee is not much.