Prop 5 will impact the future of parks in Texas!
Early voting begins today for Proposition 5 ─ a constitutional amendment that would dedicate 100% of the Sporting Goods Sales Tax to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Historical Commission. If passed, this would provide a reliable and sustained source of funding ─ without increasing taxes.
What’s Important to Know
- If approved, Prop 5 would guarantee that 100% of revenue received from the collection of existing state sales taxes on sporting goods is appropriated to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and the Texas Historical Commission (THC).
- TPWD and THC have not always received 100% of the Sporting Goods Sales Tax. From 1993-2017, less than half of the nearly $2.4 billion collected was allocated. This has led to budget shortfalls and challenges in maintaining services, staffing, and keeping up with critical repairs and improvements.
- Passage of Prop 5 would allow the department to address the needs of the aging state park system and to create more parks across the state through development of sites already owned by TPWD.
What is the Sporting Goods Sales Tax?
When people buy sporting goods (i.e., bicycles, fishing, hunting, golf equipment, sporting supplies) in Texas, the state sales taxes collected on those goods is to be, by law, dedicated to TPWD and THC to build new parks, improve and repair existing parks, maintain Texas’ historic sites and offer grants to communities for the creation and maintenance of local parks.
- The Sporting Goods Sales Tax is not a new tax ─ nor will it raise taxes.
- The allocation of the funds would be split 93% to TPWD and 7% to THC.
How Parks Benefit from Sporting Goods Sales Tax
A list of ongoing and completed repair and improvement projects at state parks across Texas can be found online at TexasStateParks.org/BrighterFuture.
Repairs and Improvements
 Numerous repair and improvement projects at Texas State Parks have been and are being funded due to the Sporting Goods Sales Tax. Examples include:
- Replacing outmoded utility systems and restrooms at many parks (Garner, Caddo Lake and more)
- Repairing roads, dams (Huntsville ) and buildings damaged by wildfires (Bastrop) and flooding (Galveston, Goose Island)
- Making critical or emergency repairs of all types, at parks all across Texas
And there still remains $800 million in deferred maintenance projects that needs to be addressed.
New Facilities and Parks
 New facilities already made possible by the Sporting Goods Sales Tax include:
- New visitors’ centers at Mission Tejas and Franklin Mountains
- New cabins at Fort Boggy, campgrounds at Mustang Island and boardwalks at Sheldon Lake
- Camping loops at Palo Duro Canyon
Future state parks, if funded, include the development and opening of five sites owned by TPWD.
For more information
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Early voting is October 21 through November 1. Any registered voter may vote early by personal appearance (in person). You may vote at any early voting location in your county of registration.
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November 5 Election and Prop 5: Visit the Texas Secretary of State’s website at VoteTexas.gov for information on the Nov. 5 election or Proposition 5 (PDF).
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State Park Improvement Projects: A list of new, ongoing and completed repair and improvement projects at state parks across Texas can be found online at TexasStateParks.org/BrighterFuture.
- News release
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