80th Legislature: Reallocation Of Sporting Goods Tax For Parks Goes Before Committe Today

HB 6 by Rep. Harvey Hilderbran (R-Kerville), legislation to re-allocate more of the revenue from the Sporting Goods Tax to the purpose it was originally intended—to fund state parks—will be heard before the House Committee on Culture, Recreation & Tourism today at 2 p.m. or upon final adjournment.

Presently, the bill has almost 120 co-sponsors.

HB 6 would remove the current $32 million annual limit on Sporting Goods Tax allocation to TP&WD, and would allocate 74 percent of the tax to the State Parks Account and 15 percent funding local parks, and 10 percent to a new account for large municipality parks.

Presently, the State Parks Account and the local parks allocation receive $15.5 million per year from the Sporting Goods Tax.  More on that local parks allocation from the fiscal note:

The current local parks grant program would be split into two programs – one for large cities defined as having a population over 500,000, the other for small cities defined as having a population of 500,000 or less.

The bill would create a dedicated account, the Large Municipality Recreation and Parks Account, in the General Revenue Fund that would be subject to funds consolidation review by the current legislature under the Government Code 403.094

It is estimated that for FY 2008 and 2009, the Sporting Goods Tax will generate $112.5 and $116.6 million respectively, meaning losses of $80.5 and $84.5 million for the General Revenue fund during the same period.
Overall, that’s not a huge hole in GR, and one that can be easily absorbed through other means.

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