Commissioner Miller Announces Change in Start Date For New Fee Schedule (11/20/2015)

AUSTIN - Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller announced the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) will delay the implementation date of its proposed fee schedule from Dec. 1, 2015 to Jan. 1, 2016. Commissioner Miller also announced he has formally requested two critical budgeting tools — unexpended balance and appropriation transfer authority — from the Legislative Budget Board (LBB).

Below is a statement from Commissioner Miller regarding the proposed fee changes:

“Much of the feedback TDA received during the comment period was to delay implementing the new rules to give industry stakeholders additional time to plan for changes.

"As part of TDA’s ongoing efforts to exhaust every available budgetary option, I have requested from the LBB unexpended balance and appropriation transfer authority. These two budgeting tools would provide TDA with much-needed flexibility in working to implement a fee schedule that meets the Legislature’s full cost recovery mandate. Both tools could also impact the scope of changes to TDA’s fee schedule in the long run.

"It is for these two reasons — industry feedback and pending requests before the LBB — that I have decided to delay the implementation of the new fee schedule until Jan. 1, 2016.

"I look forward to continuing to work with industry stakeholders and the members of the Legislature to ensure TDA can meet its statutory obligations under the full cost recovery mandate the Texas Legislature has prescribed.”

Copies of Commissioner Miller’s letters to the LBB can be viewed here and here.

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