AUSTIN — Texas state parks need “significantly” more money, Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick said Wednesday, becoming the latest state political figures to signal support for the 600,000-acre system after years of neglect.

Gov. Rick Perry called in July for a funding boost, and Democratic gubernatorial challenger Chris Bell has as well.

A recent report by the Star-Telegram found that chronic funding shortages had resulted in deteriorating sewer systems, inoperable vehicles, leaking roofs and the partial shutdown of one park because of environmental violations.

In a letter Wednesday to the Legislative Budget Board, Craddick, R-Midland, said it’s important to come up with a funding system to ensure the long-term stability of Texas parks. “Due to statewide concerns regarding funding for state parks, I would like to express my support to significantly increase funding for the state park system,” he wrote to budget board deputy director John O’Brien.

Craddick said the Legislature should consider lifting a cap on park revenue from the sales tax on sporting goods. The Legislature dedicated the sporting goods tax to parks in 1993 but later capped the amount for parks at $32 million and then appropriated even smaller amounts.

As a result, state parks now receive about $20 million annually from the $105 million-a-year tax on sporting goods.

“I would like to express my support to significantly increase funding for the state park system by either appropriating a larger amount of money from the state sales tax on sporting goods to parks, or by exploring other options,” said Craddick. “No matter how this is done, the important thing is to make sure our park system has long-term financial stability.”

Craddick said the House will review recommendations from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s State Park Advisory Committee, which is expected to finish a report next week. A draft of the report has suggested that that the system needs $100 million more annually just to maintain the system. That is in addition to the $56 million the state now allocates to parks — mostly through self-generating sources, such as park fees, in addition to the sporting goods tax.

The draft also noted that the state ranks 49th in per capita spending on park operations, and that the state park operating deficit is $6 million to $8 million annually. Those shortfalls have led to layoffs and cutbacks in operations..

George Bristol, a member of the advisory committee crafting the report, said that Craddick’s support is welcome but not surprising. He said that the House speaker had already expressed support for increased spending but that the efforts to follow through got derailed by the school finance overhaul.

“Anytime a speaker states his position this early, you bet it helps,” said Bristol, who also directs the Texas Coalition for Conservation, a nonprofit group. “I think there is a universal recognition that something has to be done. . We have had a lot of House members, a lot of senators, and the governor . . has spoken out. There is growing momentum.”

The Legislature will consider park funding in the next regular session, beginning in January, when it takes up the state’s two-year budget. Craddick has said the only way to lift the cap on the sporting goods tax is through legislative action.