June 2, 2000

The Sunset Advisory Commission peered into the inner workings of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TP&WD) at its hearing on May 18. What the Commission found in its review is an agency that says it’s desperate for additional funding to meet the natural resource and recreation needs of Texas.

The Department’s testimony and position did not go unchallenged. Texas Farm Bureau and State Rep. Pete Gallego of Alpine, in particular, questioned the need for more funds. Rep. Gallego is a member of the Sunset Advisory Committee and serves on the House Appropriations Committee. He is very familiar with the budget history of the TP&WD.

He said the Department has enjoyed a 114-percent increase in state appropriated funds in the last 10 years. “No other state agency can say that in Texas,” added Rep. Gallego.

Also, he pointed to the “disturbing” level of lapsed dollars not utilized by TP&WD in recent years. These are appropriated funds to the agency that were not used—$23 million in FY94, $25 million in FY95, $10 million in FY96, and $22 million in FY97.

Texas Farm Bureau was among those that testified at the Sunset hearing. Our testimony centered on three basic issues discussed in the Sunset staff report.
The first issue involves the possible acquisition of more privately-owned land by the Department in the future.

“The Texas Farm Bureau strongly favors the practice of no net loss in private land ownership. Any governmental entity purchasing, acquiring or condemning land should be required to release equal amounts of like property to private ownership. In other words, why should the Department acquire more private land when it cannot operate what it already owns? The Department should use its land acquisition funds for operating, rather than buying more park land.

“At the same time, the Department’s authority for acquisition of agricultural land should be limited to purchases only, with authorization from the state Legislature. The power of eminent domain to acquire private property for new game preserves, refuges, or public recreational areas should be prohibited.

“We recognize the need for coordination between agencies that own public lands in the state. However, our organization is reluctant to go so far as the Staff Report and require approval or consultation with the Parks and Wildlife Department prior to the sale or other disposal of state-owned property by other agencies.”

It should be noted that TFB was the only statewide group advocating a position of using current TP&WD land holdings first before any acquisitions are sought.

Another issue we addressed is the use of state-owned land for hunting. TFB agrees that greater and better use of state land for public hunting is a worthwhile goal and a responsible use of the resource.

“But notice that we refer only to the use of ‘state’ land for public hunting. We do not believe the Department should be leasing land from private landowners for public hunting or other activities. The Department’s current Public Dove Hunting program, in the minds of our members, competes directly with their ability to lease their own land for hunting. And the competitive advantage of the Department’s program cannot be mistaken. For only $40, a person can hunt the entire fall season on a tract of land leased by the Department for public dove hunting. The cost of this public hunt permit is well below market rates. It undermines free enterprise when you consider that private landowners earn $25 a day for dove hunts on their property. Landowners cannot compete, and they are losing paying hunters and valuable income as a result of this program.”

TFB’s testimony ended with its endorsement of involving private landowners in all conservation efforts.

“With the state of Texas being primarily a private property state, it is imperative that private landowners be included in species and conservation efforts. Endangered and threatened species protection can be more effectively achieved by providing incentives to landowners rather than by imposing land use restrictions and penalties. Voluntary landowner assistance programs of the Department are vital to the conservation future of Texas.”

The Sunset Advisory Commission will issue its final report on TP&WD in mid-June.