Honorable Will Metcalf, Chair, House Committee on Culture, Recreation & Tourism
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB4103 by Shofner (Relating to operation and management of the Eyes of Father Margil State Historic Site and Trail by the Texas Historical Commission.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB4103, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($2,684,356) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.
General Revenue-Related Funds, Five- Year Impact:
Fiscal Year
Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2026
($2,283,793)
2027
($400,563)
2028
($385,563)
2029
($385,563)
2030
($390,563)
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2025
2026
($2,283,793)
1.0
2027
($400,563)
4.0
2028
($385,563)
4.0
2029
($385,563)
4.0
2030
($390,563)
4.0
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would allow the Texas Historical Commission (THC) to contract with the municipality that owns the Eyes of Father Margil State Historic Site and Trail for the commission to assume operations and administration of the historic site. The contract would be required to include provisions for the agency to expand, renovate, manage, maintain, operate, or provide financial support for the site including construction and operation of a visitor center.
The bill would establish the Eyes of Father Margil State Historic Site and Trail Fund as a separate fund outside the state treasury. The fund would consist of admissions, sales revenue, donations and interest earned on the account. Monies in the fund would only be used for the administration and operation of the historic site. Because the fund would be established outside of the treasury, no revenue impact to the state is anticipated.
Note: The bill would move funds outside the Treasury or otherwise create or establish a fund outside the Treasury. The Texas Constitution authorizes funds outside the Treasury to be expended without legislative appropriation, which may limit the Legislature's ability to make appropriation decisions concerning these funds in the future.
Note: This legislation would do one or more of the following: create or recreate a dedicated account in the General Revenue Fund, create or recreate a special or trust fund either in, with, or outside the Treasury, or create a dedicated revenue source. The fund, account, or revenue dedication included in this bill would be subject to funds consolidation review by the current Legislature.
Methodology
THC estimates 4.0 new FTEs would be required to administer and operate the historic site: 1.0 Historic Site Superintendent III, 1.0 Customer Service Representative III, 1.0 Education Specialist III, and 1.0 Maintenance Specialist III. The Commission indicates the agency would hire the Historic Site Superintendent in FY 2026 and the remaining employees in FY 2027. The agency estimates the cost of the FTEs including salaries and wages, benefits, travel, fuels and lubricants, consumable supplies, and other personnel and operating costs to be $151,293 in fiscal year 2026 and $385,563
in each subsequent fiscal year.
According to THC, based on the agency's conversations with staff from the City of Nacogdoches, the agency would require $2,127,500 in fiscal year 2026 to support the construction of a visitor center, trail enhancements, and other improvements to the historic site.
There would be an indeterminate amount of revenue deposited to the Eyes of Father Margil State Historic Site and Trail Fund that would be available to fund operations of the site. However, this analysis assumes all costs to administer and operate the site would be out of the General Revenue Fund.
Technology
The THC anticipates onetime technology costs of $5,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $15,000 in fiscal year 2027 for laptops, software licenses and other computer equipment, as well as a cost of $5,000 in fiscal year 2030 for the agency's technology refresh cycle.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 808 Historical Commission