TPWD reports record license revenues but warns Fund 9 could go negative by FY29

Reggie Pegues, the department's chief financial officer, presented a financial overview covering FY26 revenue summaries through February and budget adjustments. Pegues said total license revenue stands at $85.6 million through February (the highest level in the five-year comparison), state parks revenue is $30.9 million, and annual boat revenues sit around $7 million. He noted strong growth in resident fishing (up ~10%) and non-resident hunting revenues, and said concessions drove a 21.8% increase in concession revenues tied to higher visitation.

Pegues also summarized budget adjustments through December: total adjustments of about $42.6 million tied to federal funds (including roughly $23 million for wildlife and $17.5 million for local parks). After those adjustments, he said the FY26 budget stood at about $1.5 billion for February.

On Fund 9 (the game, fish and water safety account that funds core wildlife, law enforcement and fisheries activities), Pegues said license and boat revenues flow to Fund 9 but expenditures presently exceed revenues by about $18 million per year, and that, at current estimates, the general Fund 9 could go negative by FY29 if corrective actions are not taken. Commissioners asked for additional detail on permit counts (numbers of resident vs. nonresident hunters) and staff agreed to provide those figures at a future meeting. Chair Foster asked staff to present a comprehensive Fund 9 briefing at the main commission meeting to inform legislative and budget planning.

Pegues concluded by noting the lifetime license fund (Fund 544) is separate from Fund 9, that lifetime license sales had declined about 1.5% year over year, and that staff will look at marketing opportunities.