Parks and Wildlife warns Fund 9 general subaccount may run negative by 2029 without structural fixes

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department officials briefed the committee on the long-term sustainability of the Game, Fish and Water Safety account (Fund 9). David Yoskiewicz said Fund 9 consists of several subaccounts and that statutory restrictions on some revenue streams force reliance on the general unrestricted subaccount for operations. He told members the general subaccount is experiencing a concerning downward trend and, based on current projections, could reach a negative balance by as early as fiscal year 2029, which could impair operations such as fish stocking, law enforcement and park services.