LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session April 3, 2001 TO: Honorable Clyde Alexander, Chair, House Committee on Transportation FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: HB3323 by Solomons (Relating to the creation, organization and management powers of a regional county transportation authority; providing for elections; providing for a governing board; providing for procedures for annexation of territory; authorizing the levy and collection of the sales and use and excise tax; authorizing transit authorities to contract with the county transportation authority.), As Introduced ************************************************************************** * No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. * ************************************************************************** Local Government Impact The fiscal impact to units of local government would vary depending on the size of the local body, the transportation services that would be provided under the provisions of the bill, and current tax law. It is assumed that larger counties, population 300,000 or more, will be more likely to establish a regional transit authority (RTA) than counties with smaller populations. For the purposes of providing a cost estimate, the Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) was contacted. The Corpus Christi RTA services Nueces county, which has a estimated population of 300,000, reported providing bus and paratransit services and operating on approximately $23 million each year. It is assumed that RTAs providing like services in other counties may realize similar operating costs in addition to initial start up costs. It is also assumed that counties establishing and maintaining an RTA would utilize taxation, fees, and bond initiatives to fund transportation services and that generated revenue would cover the cost of operation. Source Agencies: 352 Texas Bond Review Board, 601 Texas Department of Transportation, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts LBB Staff: JK, JO, MW, DW