LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
April 30, 2001
TO: Honorable Carlos F. Truan, Chair, Senate Committee on
Veteran Affairs & Military Installations
FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: HB310 by Flores (Relating to the establishment and
operation of veterans cemeteries.), As Engrossed
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* Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for *
* HB310, As Engrossed: positive impact of $0 through the biennium *
* ending August 31, 2003. *
* *
* No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. *
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General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact:
****************************************************
* Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) *
* Impact to General Revenue Related *
* Funds *
* 2002 $0 *
* 2003 0 *
* 2004 0 *
* 2005 0 *
* 2006 0 *
****************************************************
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
*****************************************************
* Fiscal Year Probable Savings/(Cost) from *
* Federal Funds - Federal *
* 0555 *
* 2002 $0 *
* 2003 (3,600,000) *
* 2004 0 *
* 2005 (2,700,000) *
* 2006 0 *
*****************************************************
Fiscal Analysis
This bill would establish up to seven veterans cemeteries across the
state. The General Land Office Veterans Land Board (GLO) would be
responsible for the operations of the cemeteries, including maintenance.
The Veterans Land Board, chairman of the Texas Veterans Commission, and
two representatives of the veterans community selected by the chairman
of the Texas Veterans Commission would be responsible for establishing
the guidelines for determining the location and size of the cemeteries,
the eligibility for burial in a cemetery, and the selection of up to
seven locations across the state to build the cemeteries. The
legislation would allow GLO to accept gifts, grants, money, securities,
services, or property for the cemeteries.
Methodology
According to the GLO, the Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that
each cemetery would receive between $700,000 and $1.1 million (variance
due to geographic location) for the establishment of a cemetery with
1,000 plots. The average of these two numbers, $900,000, was used for the
development cost of each cemetery.
The cost-estimate assumes fiscal year 2002 would be used for the federal
grant application process. Development costs are assumed (federal funds)
for four cemeteries in fiscal year 2003 and three cemeteries in fiscal
year 2005.
Funding for the cemeteries is contingent upon passage of HJR 82 which
proposes a constitutional amendment authorizing the Veterans' Land Board
to issue additional general obligation bonds and to use certain assets
in certain funds to provide for veterans homes and veterans cemeteries
and to make certain payments on revenue bonds. According to the GLO, the
loan programs are self-supporting, therefore, no significant fiscal
impact to the state is anticipated.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies: 305 General Land Office, 808 Texas Historical
Commission
LBB Staff: JK, RB, JC