LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
April 2, 2001
TO: Honorable Clyde Alexander, Chair, House Committee on
Transportation
FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: HB2522 by Wilson (Relating to requiring the Texas
Department of Transportation to establish and maintain a
state airport in Central Texas.), As Introduced
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* Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for *
* HB2522, As Introduced: positive impact of $0 through the biennium *
* ending August 31, 2003. *
* *
* 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 *
* 2002 $0 *
* 2003 0 *
* 2004 0 *
* 2005 0 *
* 2006 0 *
****************************************************
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
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*Fiscal Probable Probable Probable Revenue *
* Year Savings/(Cost) from Savings/(Cost) from Gain/(Loss) from *
* Federal Funds - State Highway Fund State Highway Fund *
* Federal 0006 0006 *
* 0555 *
* 2002 $(270,000) $(30,000) $0 *
* 2003 (18,405,000) (2,045,000) 0 *
* 2004 (6,030,000) (670,000) 0 *
* 2005 (3,240,000) (842,000) 1,062,500 *
* 2006 (495,000) (537,000) 1,062,500 *
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Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Transportation Code by requiring the Texas
Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to establish and maintain an
airport, in consultation with the State Aircraft Pooling Board, in
Central Texas that would be open to the general public for the use of
licensed aircraft.
The bill would take effect immediately upon receiving a two-thirds
majority vote in both houses; otherwise, the bill would take effect
September 1, 2001.
Methodology
TxDOT assumes that the airport would be classified as a reliever airport
with a 6,000 foot runway designed to accommodate general aviation and
small business aircraft. TxDOT also assumes that the airport would be
designed for 125 based aircraft with infrastructure to support the based
aircraft plus transient aircraft operations. TxDOT assumes that the
project would begin in fiscal year 2002 and that the airport would be
eligible for federal financial assistance grants for 90% of engineering,
land, and construction costs; that hangars, fueling systems and some
other structures would not be eligible for federal funds and would
require state funding; and that the site identified would be the now
closed Robert Mueller Airport.
TxDOT estimates costs of $300,000 in fiscal year 2002 and $150,000 in
fiscal year 2003 would be required for a feasibility study, environmental
assessment, and an airport master plan, and that this process would take
18 months to complete. TxDOT assumes an engineering firm would be hired
to provide airport design services for the airport infrastructure
including the runway, taxiway, lighting, signs, and other necessary
structures and that the estimated cost of these services would total
$650,000 through FY 2006. TxDOT estimates necessary land acquisition
costs of approximately $20 million would be realized concurrently with
the engineering services in fiscal year 2003 and that actual
construction/rehabilitation of the facility would begin in fiscal year
2004 with an estimated cost of $6,500,000. TxDOT also estimates similar
costs would continue with $3,500,000 being incurred in fiscal year 2005
and another $500,000 in fiscal year 2006.
TxDOT assumes the airport would become operationally self-sufficient by
2005 following completion of the infrastructure and that revenue
generated in amounts of $650,000 from fuel sales and $412,500 from
hangar leases each year would cover operating costs. TxDOT also assumes
the airport would be able to utilize equipment from its district offices
for some airport maintenance, such as mowing, but that $200,000 each
year in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 would be required for specific
airport equipment costs.
Local Government Impact
It is assumed that the bill would have a fiscal impact on local units of
government in areas surrounding the airport location and that the City
of Austin would realize a revenue gain from re-development of the
Mueller site.
Source Agencies: 601 Texas Department of Transportation
LBB Staff: JK, JO, MW