Commission budget briefing describes likely impacts
In a briefing to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission last week, TPWD Executive Director Carter Smith described likely impacts to the department from the state budget bill which passed in both the House and Senate over the weekend. The legislature did not resolve school finance issues that are critical to funding the budget, so Gov. Perry has called a special legislative session starting this week to deal with that and other matters. Agency observers think it�s unlikely the budget bill will change much in the special session, though anything is possible.

In Smith�s briefing to commissioners, he compared TPWD�s original Legislative Appropriations Request with the state budget passed by the legislature after conference committee negotiations. Smith said the department�s total budget is expected to shrink by $145.46 million over two years for the 2012-2013 biennium, a 20.8 percent decrease. That cut breaks down to include $44 million in salaries/operating, $11.91 in capital equipment, $41.59 million in capital construction, and $17.65 million in new bond authority for construction and repairs, among other items. The state budget also effectively zeroes out 2012-2013 funding for Local Park Grants used to create or enhance city and county parks across the state, cutting that grant program by $39.73 million, but leaving about $1.5 million to continue to monitor recent grants already in progress.

The state budget bill also cuts TPWD�s total number of FTEs by 259.7 employee positions, although rider provisions could reduce that to 169.2 FTEs. Smith noted that while the FTE cut will include some vacant positions, it will mean a Reduction In Force. He repeated TPWD�s commitment to treat employees with compassion and respect, and outlined rough plans for impending RIFs, which will include 45 days paid notice, the opportunity to apply for vacant TPWD jobs, help seeking other employment and other assistance.

Smith also noted some better news for TPWD, where lawmakers in effect restored some cuts proposed in the original House of Representatives budget bill, and also gave the department flexibility to help manage fiscal impacts. This included legislative riders that do things like give TPWD flexibility to average TPWD�s FTE cap over two years instead of one, which effectively means fewer employee RIFs required for 2012. Another rider gives TPWD exemption from some Article IX transferability limitations, which effectively gives department leaders more leeway to decide how to spread the cuts out across the agency. Smith said TPWD�s Land and Water Conservation and Recreation Plan will serve as the strategic guide for budget decisions. He noted lawmakers provided $32.35 million in new bond authority, though this is less than requested in TPWD�s original LAR. This good news means the agency will be able to maintain a basic level of its Infrastructure Division focus on repairs and improvements to state parks, fish hatcheries and other sites. Also, Rider 27 gives TPWD hope to be able use additional license sales and fee revenue it brings in above the Texas Comptroller�s estimate, which would give some relief to offset cut impacts.

The department�s executive team will work with all divisions to prepare staff budget recommendations for a TPW Commission budget workshop meeting June 30 in Austin. It is hoped that by then legislative financial matters will be resolved in the special session. The commission will make a final vote on the TPWD budget at its Aug. 25 meeting. Meanwhile, employees should stay tuned for an upcoming Town Hall Q&A session with Carter to be announced soon.

It is awfully difficult to find anything good in the coming biennium's budget. Thanks for sharing this; I feel badly for the people at TPWD who will be impacted.

Now, I'm going to call upon my impressive command of the English language and STFU.

I talked with a Game Warden at work on Saturday (kid's day...but that's another story). She said the GW current academy class was continueing and that TP&WD was taking applications for the next class. She wasn't sure what the big budget and people cuts were going to do to the Department.. Actually, she was kinda cute, for a Game Warden...

We're hearing that Angler Education shouldn't be effected!!!

Jerry,
Thanks for the information.

Derik,
I agree!

There is nothing good about this state budget

except that it will help Texas take care of a 21 billion dollar shortfall without raising taxes as well as protecting our valued rainy day fund.

These slashes are also getting us back to pre-stimulus budgets. We should have stuck by our guns and never taken that money.

I hope the best for the TPWD employees that will be impacted.

Perry took that money, but thats another forum. . .

I was going to post a picture of my all time favorite female sports caster, Lisa Guerro, but decided not to do it...you know...might of been a copy right issue with Hugh Hefner and all...and not wanting an unwanted lawsuit over such a trivial thing. So, just use you imagination.

Actually, I didn't think, at the time, to take a picture of someone carrying a gun...

Anyone know how much money os collected from Fishing/Hunting Licenses in the State?