LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE
75th Regular Session
May 7, 1997
TO: Honorable J.E. "Buster" Brown, Chair IN RE: House Bill No. 1016, Committee Report 2nd House, as amended
Committee on Natural Resources By: Puente
Senate
Austin, Texas
FROM: John Keel, Director
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on HB1016 ( Relating
to fees imposed for certain plans subject to Texas Natural Resource
Conservation Commission approval under the commission's rules
for the protection of the Edwards Aquifer.) this office has
detemined the following:
Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by HB1016-Committee Report 2nd House, as amended
Implementing the provisions of the bill would result in a
net impact of $0 to General Revenue Related Funds through the
biennium ending August 31, 1999.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal
basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions
of the bill.
Fiscal Analysis
This bill would allow an increase, from $2,000 to $5,000, in
the maximum fee that the Texas Natural Resources Conservation
Commission (TNRCC) could impose to review and approve applications
for real estate development over the Edwards Aquifer. The bill
would require that all such fees currently collected and deposited
to the Water Quality Account be used for TNRCC's Edwards Aquifer
programs.
Methodolgy
The existing cap of $2,000 per application has produced about
$622,000 in revenue for the Water Quality Account, whereas TNRCC's
current annual program costs are $911,250. By raising the application
fee cap to $5,000, this bill would allow TNRCC to recover current
program costs. TNRCC estimates the annual revenue from the higher
fee to be $991,300.
The probable fiscal implication of implementing the provisions
of the bill during each of the first five years following passage
is estimated as follows:
Five Year Impact:
Fiscal Year Probable Revenue Probable
Gain/(Loss) from Savings/(Cost)
Water Quality from Water
Account/ Quality Account/
GR-Dedicated GR-Dedicated
0153 0153
1998 $991,300 ($911,250)
1998 991,300 (911,250)
2000 991,300 (911,250)
2001 991,300 (911,250)
2002 991,300 (911,250)
Net Impact on General Revenue Related Funds:
Fiscal Year Probable Net Postive/(Negative)
General Revenue Related Funds
Funds
1998 $0
1999 0
2000 0
2001 0
2002 0
Similar fiscal implications are expected to continue as long
as the legislation is in effect.
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government
is anticipated.
Since the majority of the applicants for
development of real estate over the Edwards Aquifer are private
individuals and businesses, the increase in the maximum fee
amount for undertaking development over the Edwards Aquifer
will not have a significant fiscal implication for local governments
.
Source: Agencies: 582 Natural Resources Conservation Commission
LBB Staff: JK ,BB ,NT