Honorable John Cyrier, Chair, House Committee on Culture, Recreation & Tourism
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1836 by Biedermann (Relating to the preservation, maintenance, and restoration of the Alamo Cenotaph; granting the power of eminent domain.), As Introduced
The fiscal implications to the state are indeterminate because the cost that the General Land Office would realize to acquire the land on which the Cenotaph is located is unknown.
The bill would amend the Natural Resources Code to grant the General Land Office (GLO) the authority to acquire via eminent domain the Alamo Cenotaph and any property necessary to preserve, maintain, and restore it. The bill would make GLO responsible for the preservation, maintenance, and restoration of the Cenotaph, and would require that the Cenotaph remain on the original Alamo Plaza.
Based on information provided by GLO, the agency would need to hire outside legal counsel specializing in eminent domain at a cost of $75,000 each fiscal year. For the purposes of this analysis, it is assumed the eminent domain process would be concluded in fiscal year 2020. Initial costs for repairs to the Cenotaph estimated by GLO total $1,000,000 based on a 2014 structural assessment; however, GLO also indicates that repair costs could be as high as $5,000,000 if additional structural damage is found. After the Cenotaph is repaired, GLO estimates that annual maintenance costs of $50,000 would be necessary.
GLO has indicated that the value of the land on which the Cenotaph is located is unknown. GLO would need to appraise the land, and it could do so with existing resources. Because the value of the land is unknown, the fiscal impact to the state cannot be determined.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.