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Press Release
 
Wednesday, August 23, 2006  

VO: "EITHER SPEND STATE PARK TAX ON STATE PARKS OR ABOLISH IT"

Alief, Texas - SState Representative Hubert Vo today said state leaders should either spend a dedicated Texas tax on the state's parks for which it was intended or abolish the tax altogether.

"Texans deserve truth in taxation," Vo said. "When it comes to this tax, Austin should use it or lose it."

Vo said a "sporting goods" tax implemented more than a decade ago to help pay for the operation and maintenance of state parks is being used instead by state leaders to fund a range of unrelated budget wishes.

"It's wrong that families are asked to pay this tax when they shop for camping equipment only to see their local parks close or cut back on services due to a lack of funds," Vo said.
Texas now ranks second-to-last in per capita spending on state parks, Vo said - $1.20 annually compared to a national average of more than $7.50.

Vo said more than 50 state parks have closed or cut back their operations due to funding shortfalls, staffing shortages, a lack of drinking water, public restrooms, and other critical facilities. Area parks that have cut back on hours include Varner Hogg, now open only Wednesday through Saturday.
 

In addition, Vo said, the San Jacinto Battleground Monument, on the site where Texas won its independence, is now in desrepair and we have a rusting Battleship Texas held together with duct tape despite a $1 fee instituted last year to pay for operations and maintenance.

"Not everyone can afford to vacation in a fancy resort," Vo said. "The families who pay this tax when they shop at their local sporting goods store should be able to count on their state parks being open and operational when they finally have a chance to get away for a day or two."

The sporting goods tax was approved in the mid- 1990s and capped at $32 million. Experts had declared the tax insufficient to maintain state park facilities even before Austin leaders began raiding the dedicated tax for other purposes.

Last year, the sporting goods tax generated $105 million, but lawmakers appropriated only $20.5 million of that amount for state and local parks - far less than the amount allowed under the decade-old cap.

In addition, Vo said, Texas voters in 2001 approved a $101 million bond issue to help modernize state and local parks, but Austin leaders have dragged their feet and failed to implement the improvements.
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