LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE
75th Regular Session
April 7, 1997
TO: Honorable Carlos F. Truan, Chair IN RE: Senate Bill No. 369
Committee on International Relations, Trade & Technology By: Sibley
Senate
Austin, Texas
FROM: John Keel, Director
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on SB369 ( Relating
to the abolition of the Texas Turnpike Authority and the transfer
of its functions to the Texas Department of Transportation and
newly created regional tollway authorities.) this office has
detemined the following:
Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by SB369-As Introduced FN Revision 1
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.
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would establish the Texas Turnpike Authority (TTA)
as a division of the Department of Transportation and would
establish the North Texas Tollway Authority as a regional tollway
authority. In addition, the bill would allow for the establishment
of regional tollway authorities.
Methodolgy
Provisions in the bill creating the North Texas Tollway Authority
(NTTA) and the Texas Turnpike Authority (TTA) division within
TxDot also transfer assets from the Texas Turnpike Authority
to the North Texas Tollway Authority. The NTTA would assume
and become liable for all duties and obligations of the TTA
related to those assets, rights and properties transferred.
In addition, as a consideration for the transfer of certain
properties to the NTTA, a provision of the bill provides for
an amount to be paid to the Department of Transportation, agreed
upon by the NTTA and the department, by no later than October
1, 1997. In determining that amount, the NTTA and the department
would ensure that, following the payment, the NTTA is in compliance
with all agreements assumed by the NTTA and reserves would be
maintained at a level consistent with TTA historical practices.
Existing
obligations incurred by the TTA for feasibility studies for
US 183-A and the SH 130 totaling $1,150,000 would need to be
funded by the Department until funds generated by projects initiated
by TTA could be made available to the TTA division to assume
responsibility for the continuation of the studies. In addition,
start up costs for the division would need to be made available
to allow the division to begin its functions. Those amounts,
for five FTEs and operating costs, are $345,584 for fiscal year
1998 and $305,284 for fiscal year 1999. The Division could be
self sustaining after projects come on-line by fiscal year 2000
and repayment to the department of the start up costs could
be initiated in the same fiscal year. Should a specific amount
identified to be paid by the NTTA to the department by October
1, 1997 be higher than the identified outstanding obligations
and startup costs, the amounts provided by the department to
the TTA division for those costs could be assumed by the Division
and therefore provisions related to the creation of the TTA
division would have no fiscal impact to the department.
The probable fiscal implications 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 Change in Number
Savings/(Cost) of State
from State Employees from
Highway Fund FY 1997
0006
1998 ($1,495,584) 5.0
1998 (305,284) 5.0
2000 0 0.0
2001 0 0.0
2002 0 0.0
Net Impact on General Revenue Related Funds:
The probable fiscal implication to General Revenue related funds
during each of the first five years is estimated as follows:
Fiscal Year Probable Net Postive/(Negative)
General Revenue Related Funds
Funds
1998 $0
1999 0
2000 0
2001 0
2002 0
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source: Agencies: 302 Office of the Attorney General
601 Department of Transportation
LBB Staff: JK ,TH ,ML