October 13, 2014 4:02 PM

Budget Talk: Texas Historical Commission continues work on a shoestring budget

Executive director asks LBB for ability to accept outside donations for new facilities

The Texas Historical Commission is still “staffing poor” after the major cuts of the two sessions ago, even as the agency staff doubled last session.

Doubled is a relative term, since the staffing level at the commission is now 30, down from 47. Last session, lawmakers also added a new credit against the margins tax for the preservation of historical building. That tax cut did not come with any additional personnel for the agency.

The commission teetered on the edge of extinction after its objections to proposed renovations of the Governor’s mansion. In a subsequent State of the State speech, Gov. Rick Perry suggested both the state arts and historical commissions could be eliminated during a budget cycle that showed double-digit revenue losses. In recent sessions, the commission has taken a low profile in budget discussions.

For an agency of 30 employees, the Historical Commission covers a lot of ground, with divisions in archaeology, architecture, community heritage, historic sites and history programs. Its newest addition, spearheaded by former Sen. Florence Shapiro, R-Plano, is the Texas Holocaust & Genocide Commission.

By Kimberly Reeves