LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 76th Regular Session
May 12, 1999
TO: Honorable Gary Walker, Chair, House Committee on Land &
Resource Management
FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: SB 1421 by Lucio (relating to the regulation of the
subdivision or development of land in certain
economically distressed areas, including colonias, and
certain other areas; providing penalties), Committee
Report 2nd House, Substituted
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* Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for *
* SB1421, Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted: negative impact *
* of $(662,178) through the biennium ending August 31, 2001. *
* *
* The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal *
* basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of *
* the bill. *
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General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact:
****************************************************
* Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) *
* Impact to General Revenue Related *
* Funds *
* 2000 $(347,337) *
* 2001 (314,841) *
* 2002 (314,841) *
* 2003 (314,841) *
* 2004 (314,841) *
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All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
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*Fiscal Probable Savings/(Cost) from Change in Number of State *
* Year General Revenue Fund Employees from FY 1999 *
* 0001 *
* 2000 $(347,337) 6.0 *
* 2001 (314,841) 6.0 *
* 2002 (314,841) 6.0 *
* 2003 (314,841) 6.0 *
* 2004 (314,841) 6.0 *
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Technology Impact
Each colonia ombudsman would need one personal computer.
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would permit the Governor to designate an agency to act as the
state's colonia initiatives coordinator. The bill would also permit the
agency designated as the colonia initiatives coordinator to appoint a
colonia ombudsman in each of the six border counties that the coordinator
determines have the largest colonia population.
The bill would authorize the Texas Natural Resource Conservation
Commission (TNRCC) to award grants for any purpose regarding resource
conservation or environmental protection.
The bill would authorize a county commissioners court to impose a fee for
inspection of property.
Methodology
It is assumed that the Governor would designate an agency to act as the
state's colonia initiatives coordinator and that the coordinator would
employ an ombudsman for each of the six counties.
The Office of the Secretary of State (agency) estimates that the salary
for each ombudsman would be $34,992 annually.
The agency assumes that each ombudsman would travel 12,000 miles each
year within the county by personal automobile. At the reimbursement rate
of $0.28 per mile, the cost per ombudsman would be $3,360 per year or
$20,160 per year for all six ombudsmen. In addition, the agency projects
a cost of $2,640 per year for each ombudsman to travel to Austin each
quarter for a total annual cost of $15,840 per year. Based upon these
projections, the total annual travel costs would be $36,000.
Under the agency's assumption that the ombudsman would be state
employees, the agency anticipates office space for each ombudsman would
be $1,800 per year for a total cost of $10,800 per year. The agency also
projects an initial cost of $32,496 for personal computers and office
equipment for the ombudsmen and an annual cost of $5,160 for telephones
and office supplies.
The TNRCC estimates that the provision authorizing the TNRCC to award
grants would be no significant fiscal impact. The grant authority would
allow the TNRCC to pass through grant funds received from the federal
government, if they become available.
Local Government Impact
Under the provisions of the bill, a county commissioners court could
impose a fee for inspection of property. The bill would authorize such
fees only to fund the inspections.
Source Agencies: 302 Office Of The Attorney General, 307 Secretary
of State, 580 Water Development Board, 582
Natural Resource Conservation Commission, 501
Department of Health
LBB Staff: JK, DE, DM