Summary

Texas state parks are woefully underfunded. In August 2006, the Texas State Parks Advisory Committee recommended allocating the entire amount of state sporting goods sales tax to parks, a funding increase of $85 million per year.

Background

Since the 1995 session, Texas Parks and Wildlife has been funded by the first $32 million of the sporting goods tax. This is approximately 30% of the $110 million brought in by the tax, and the cap has not increased since 1995. In fact, between 1990 and 2003, funding for parks has been reduced by 34 percent.

Additional Links

TWPD Press Release on Committee report.
Houston Audubon on state park funding
Texas Sierraclub on state park funding
Environment Texas on state park funding