TPWD finance chief reports flat license and park revenue; FY25 budget adjusts up amid federal apportionments

Reg Pegues, TPWD chief financial officer, presented an FY2025 financial overview during the May 21 work session covering license revenue, park revenue and visitation, boat-related revenue and recent budget adjustments.

Pegues said five‑year comparisons show relative stability in license revenue: TPWD revenue through April for license year 2025 stood at about $95.6 million versus $97.6 million in license year 2021, representing roughly a 2 percent change over five years and a 2.5 percent increase over license year 2024. He said resident fishing revenue accounted for the largest license-type increase.

State park revenue year-to-date for FY25 was approximately $41.5 million, Pegues said, largely tracking FY24 levels with only a modest decline from the record FY22 year. Visitation year-to-date was within 1 percent of FY24 totals. Boat-related revenues were trending slightly above FY24, with FY25 boat revenues projected at about $11.7 million so far, a 3.8 percent increase over last year.

Pegues summarized budget adjustments since the March commission meeting. Starting from a February ending budget of about $1.08 billion, adjustments included roughly $1.3 million in appropriated receipts, $1.1 million in unexpended capital construction carryforward, and roughly $18 million net in federal fund apportionment adjustments (including increases for wildlife restoration, sport fish restoration and boating safety assistance). Fringe benefits adjustments and operational adjustments, including reimbursements related to Operation Lone Star, accounted for additional changes. Total adjustments of roughly $26 million raised the agency’s adjusted FY25 budget to about $1.10 billion, Pegues said.

He concluded by inviting commissioner questions; no votes were associated with the financial briefing.