LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                              March 6, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable J.E. "Buster" Brown, Chair, Senate Committee on
               Natural Resources
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  SB137  by Gallegos (Relating to the transfer of
               jurisdiction over the San Jacinto Battleground and the
               Battleship "Texas" from the Parks and Wildlife
               Department to the Texas Historical Commission.), As
               Introduced
  
**************************************************************************
*  Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for    *
*  SB137, As Introduced:  negative impact of $(663,486) 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.                                                             *
**************************************************************************
  
This legislation would transfer the San Jacinto Battleground and the
Battleship Texas from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to the
Texas Historical Commission.  Based on existing operating cost and
admission fees for Battleship Texas, the annual operating loss
associated with the San Jacinto Battleground and Battleship Texas is
approximately $865,800.  Annual funding from the General Revenue Fund of
approximately $534,000 per year reduces this loss to approximately
$331,800.
  
General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact:
  
          ****************************************************
          *  Fiscal Year  Probable Net Positive/(Negative)   *
          *               Impact to General Revenue Related  *
          *                             Funds                *
          *       2002                           $(331,743)  *
          *       2003                            (331,743)  *
          *       2004                            (331,743)  *
          *       2005                            (331,743)  *
          *       2006                            (331,743)  *
          ****************************************************
  
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
  
***********************************************************************
*Fiscal    Probable    Probable    Probable    Probable   Change in    *
* Year     Savings/    Revenue     Revenue     Savings/   Number of    *
*        (Cost) from Gain/(Loss) Gain/(Loss) (Cost) from    State      *
*          General       from     from State State Parks  Employees    *
*          Revenue     General      Parks      Account/  from FY 2001  *
*            Fund      Revenue     Account/      GR-                   *
*            0001        Fund        GR-      Dedicated                *
*                        0001     Dedicated      0064                  *
*                                    0064                              *
*  2002    $(991,743)    $660,000  $(660,000)    $991,743         0.0  *
*  2003     (991,743)     660,000   (660,000)     991,743         0.0  *
*  2004     (991,743)     660,000   (660,000)     991,743         0.0  *
*  2005     (991,743)     660,000   (660,000)     991,743         0.0  *
*  2006     (991,743)     660,000   (660,000)     991,743         0.0  *
***********************************************************************
  

  
Fiscal Analysis
  
The San Jacinto Battleground and Battleship Texas is currently operated
by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.  Current costs are $1,545,785
per fiscal year, including staffing of 38 FTEs.  Of this amount,
$534,015 is funded by General Revenue and $991,743 is provided by General
Revenue-Dedicated, State Parks Account No. 64.  Entrance fees paid by
visitors to Battleship Texas generate $660,000 per year.

The San Jacinto Battleground and Battleship Texas land and building are
valued at $24,392,000.  In addition, all capital equipment (vehicles,
radios, trailers, tractors, mowers, etc.) as well as exhibits and
artifacts is valued at $11,817,733.
  
  
Methodology
  
It is assumed that all revenue, operating costs and 38 full-time
equivalent positions associated with the San Jacinto Battleground and
Battleship Texas, as well as all assets associated with the San Jacinto
Battleground and Battleship Texas, will be transferred to the Historical
Commission.

Admission fees collected from visitors to the San Jacinto Battleground
and Battleship Texas would be collected by the Historical Commission and
used to defray the cost of operating San Jacinto Battleground and
Battleship Texas.
  
  
Local Government Impact
  
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated.
  
  
Source Agencies:   304   Comptroller of Public Accounts, 802   Texas
                   Parks and Wildlife Department, 808   Texas Historical
                   Commission
LBB Staff:         JK, CL, ZS, SF