LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                          Austin, Texas

                           FISCAL NOTE
                       74th Regular Session

                           May 3, 1995



 TO:     Honorable Senator John T. Montford,    IN RE:  Senate BillNo. 1564
         Chair                                          By: Lucio
         Committee on Finance
         Senate
         Austin, Texas






FROM: John Keel, Director

In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on Senate Bill No.
1564 (Relating to the enhancement of international trade by
granting an exemption from taxation of property owned by a
navigation district or port authority that is used for public
purposes.) this office has determined the following:

The bill would exempt property owned by a navigation district or
port authority and leased to another party from ad valorem
taxation.  To qualify, the property would have to be used for a
public purpose and would be limited to specific purposes defined
under the Texas Water Code.  These purposes are:

1.  Maintenance of port facilities;
2.  Operating and developing port facilities;
3.  Acquisition of land; and,
4.  Any other general authority granted to navigation districts
in Chapter 63, Water Code.  

The Comptroller does not receive or maintain information on
property owned by navigation districts or port authorities and
leased to other entities.  The fiscal impact on local governments
cannot be determined.  There would be a reduction in taxable
value in those taxing units that currently tax leased property as
defined in the bill.

Passage of this bill could also cause a change in school district
taxable values reported to the Commissioner of Education by the
Comptroller.  Changes in school district property wealth could
have an impact on state funding for public education.    





 




Source:   Comptroller of Public Accounts
          LBB Staff: JK, BR, DF