Through Gov. Perry’s leadership, the 80th Legislature approved $181.6 million in additional parks-related appropriations for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, including $51.4 million for operations of parks, $44.1 million in bonds for statewide park repairs, $36.2 million in local park grants and $25 million for the dry-berthing of the Battleship Texas.  He also supported the effort to transfer 18 historical sites to the Texas Historical Commission and the transfer of the State Railroad to the Texas State Railroad Authority.

Prior to 1993, Texas state parks were funded almost exclusively through a tax on cigarettes.  This was problematic, as the source of the tax was not related to parks and the amount of the tax was declining while demand for parks was increasing.  In 1993, the legislature replaced the cigarette tax with a dedicated portion of the state sales tax on sporting goods to better reflect Texas Parks and Wildlife’s mission.  Since then, the legislature has appropriated only a fraction of the sporting goods sales tax to Texas Parks and Wildlife.  At the time, the amount was sufficient. Yet as time passed, the state’s population has soared, inflation has risen, and the cost of all goods and services has increased, leaving our parks desperately underfunded.  Additionally, Texas Parks and Wildlife was saddled with preserving and operating 18 historical sites that were better suited to be operated by the Texas Historical Commission.

In 2007, Gov. Perry signed legislation that he worked through both the House and the Senate providing $181 million in additional funding for our state parks.  While the governor feels this effort by the legislature is commendable, he feels withholding more than half of the state sales tax on sporting goods in order to balance the budget does not represent truth in taxation. The full tax should be used for its intended purpose or it should be reduced or returned to our hardworking citizens.  As such, he helped include in the legislation a directive to the legislature requiring the appointment of a committee to study the source of the sales tax on sporting goods and the proper appropriation of the funds to better reflect the growing and changing needs of the citizens of our state.  As an additional part of the legislation, the governor was successful in supporting the transfer of 18 historical sites to the Texas Historical Commission.  Lastly, Gov. Perry made certain the legislation included sufficient checks and balances to insure the efficient use of the additional funding.

Gov. Perry is satisfied with the additional $181 million for this biennium but looks forward to the findings of the interim study addressing the sales tax on sporting goods funding questions.  He is also proud of the additional $36.2 million in local park grants for city and county parks that will also enhance citizen access to the outdoors.  Finally, he looks forward to the dry-berthing of the Battleship Texas, which will be the first project of its kind in the world. When completed, it will serve as a magnet for tourism and a beacon for engineering ingenuity.