During their December 7, 2015 meeting, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality discussed the Fiscal Year 2016 Water Study on Water Resource Management Account Fund 0153.
The study determined that the Water Resource Management (WRM) Account has not been able to maintain sufficient revenue over the last several biennia, requiring the agency to increase the Consolidated Water Quality fee and Public Health Service fee. The agency reviewed the current revenue and funding obligations to the WRM Account to determine deficiencies. The agency will not only need to adjust revenue sources to support current obligations but will also need to have a sufficient cash flow to support the Agency’s Water Programs in the future.
The study also noted that as the state’s population grows, a higher demand for water resources and an increase in the burden on agency programs that protect and manage those resources should be expected. TCEQ’s FY 2018/19 Legislative Appropriations Request includes Exceptional Items that require an additional $7 million a year from the WRM Account.
