Upcoming election could lead to wealth of diverse business opportunities

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) will receive $200 million in funding if Proposition Four passes. Among projects to be funded by DPS are new regional offices in McAllen, Rio Grande City and Lubbock. Lubbock would also get a new crime lab with other DPS crime labs being expanded. Nearly $50 million is earmarked for a driver training facility for law enforcement officers. Plans are to equip the facility with driving simulators and training areas.

Texas is home to more historic courthouses than any other state, with more than 230 of them at least 50 years old. Close to 80 of them were built before the turn of the 20th Century. Because counties have a difficult time finding the revenue needed to preserve these historic buildings for future generations, the Texas Historical Commission's Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program was set up to provide partial matching grant funds to counties willing to rehabilitate these grand old buildings. Included in the $1 billion in Proposition Four is $48 million for the Historical Commission, some of which would be used for courthouse renovations and some of which would be used for other historic sites.

Last year, lawmakers were told by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) officials that some state parks in dire need of repairs might have to close. Lawmakers made sure that Proposition Four included $52.1 million for TPWD, including $27.1 million for state park repairs and another $25 million for renovations of the Battleship Texas.

Other projects that will be funded by passage of Proposition Four include:

• Adjutant General's Department - $13.5 million. Camp Mabry in Austin needs repairs and maintenance and 14 Readiness Center where Texas Military Forces members are trained are in line for major maintenance projects.
• Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services - $39.7 million. All of this funding will go toward repairs and renovations of the state's mental health schools.
• Texas Youth Commission - $27.9 million. This funding will allow the agency to meet some of the goals set by the 80th Texas Legislature, including building a new facility in a metropolitan area so youth from those areas would be closer to families. The funding would also provide for new construction at existing TYC facilities.
• Texas Facilities Commission (former Texas Building and Procurement Commission) - $32 million. These funds have been set aside for deferred maintenance and asbestos abatement at a number of state buildings and facilities.
• Department of State Health Services - $30.6 million. This money will be used for repairs and renovations at the state's mental hospitals.

Renovation and repair work includes everything from lumber to air conditioning and heating units, while equipment purchases can include items such as computers, surveillance cameras and more.

With $1 billion in spending likely if this proposition passes, vendors should definitely keep an eye on the upcoming election results.