LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                              April 4, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Frank Madla, Chair, Senate Committee on
               Intergovernmental Relations
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  SB870  by Lindsay (Relating to the authority of a
               commissioners court of a county to authorize certain
               community and economic development programs.), Committee
               Report 1st House, Substituted
  
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*  No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.                    *
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Local Government Impact
  
The bill would authorize commissioners courts to develop and administer a
program to promote or advertise the county in an attempt to attract
visitors, businesses, and conventions. The costs of advertising campaigns
could vary from minimal to substantial, depending on the counties'
preferences and budget.  Costs would be anticipated to be offset by an
increase in number of visitors to and spending in the county as a result
of the advertising campaign.

Under the provisions of the bill, the commissioners courts could also
develop and administer a program to support comprehensive literacy
programs for the county residents. The costs would vary depending on use
of volunteers or paid workers, educational materials purchased and used,
frequency of classes, number of locations used for offering literacy
services, and expenses in advertising availability of the program.

The bill would also authorize a commissioners court to support a
children's advocacy center that provides services to abused children.
Cost would depend on what programs are available in the county and to
what extent the county commissioners court would choose to provide
support.
  
  
Source Agencies:   
LBB Staff:         JK, DB