LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE
74th Regular Session
May 10, 1995
TO: Honorable Senator John T. Montford, IN RE: Committee Substitute
Chair for
Committee on Finance Senate Bill
Senate No. 1564
Austin, Texas By: Lucio
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 certain property owned by
a navigation district, a port authority, or a municipality that
operates a public port.) this office has determined the
following:
The bill would exempt property owned by a navigation district,
port authority, or a municipality that operates a public port
that is 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: LBB Staff: JK, BR, DF