Clements o tlin Aim • s challenge to Tex s State must prepare for people boom of next 20 years, governor says By KAREN MALKOWSKI The population of4 Texas is ex- pected to increase 50 percent in the next 20 years, and the state must be ready to meet that challenge, Gov. Bill Clements told members of the, Texas Municipal League on Monday. "Are we going to have enough schools, water systems, public utility systems, roads for these people?" Clements asked. "How can we meet that challenge and still maintain the same quality of life we're used to now?" Clements gave a brief talk to mem- bers of the league during the open- ing day of its 68th annual conference, being conducted at the Dallas Con- vention Center. During the speech, he outlined what he said he expects to be the major issues facing the Texas Legislature during its 1981 ses- sion. "TEXAS 2000," the first long-range plan for state development, was one of those issues, Clements said, noting the state's population is expected to increase from the estimated 13.4 mil- lion at present to 21 million by the year 2600. "The only plan we've had up to now is the 2-year budget," Clements said. "I've felt it's terribly important that we have a longer-range plan." To that end, Clements said, he formed a commission of experts in various fields 15 months ago to study Texas' past, present and future. The plan, which still is being formed, may not be foolproof, he said, but at least it will "guide the state in the right direction." "THIS WAY, we're not just falling out of bed and saying, 'What's the is- sue today?' "Clements said. The commission is working to build a computer model to guide the state's growth during the next 20 years, he said. Other important issues Clements said the legislature will face include: • Education, the "No. 1 priority" for 1981. A committee formed by Clements 18 months ago has issued a report on the future of the Texas pub- lic school system with emphasis on the "back to basics" movement. "We need to restore a sense of discipline to the classroom. We need better communication, coordination and co- operation between teachers, adminis- trators and school boards." • Crime. Clements said his staff is working with district attorneys and other law enforcement officials to form a "crime package" to combat the growing crime rate in Texas. Clements did not mention specifics of the plan. • "Good management" of state and local governments to lower theil cost to the taxpayers. "We want to make sure that the budget of $11 bil- lion is spent for the purposes it was intended for," Clements said. Solu- tions for the problem of ever-increas- ing ad valorem taxes will be sought during the legislative session, Clem- ents said, and he said he does "not have the answer" to that difficulty. • Redistricting of state and na- tional legislative seats. This is done every 10 years after the release of the U.S. census data, and Clements said he expects it to be a difficult process. "I have an underlying philosophy about this (reapportionment)," Clements said. "The gerrymandering we have done in the past is ridicu- lous. There is a congressional (seat boundary) line that runs from the Gulf Coast almost to South Dallas." "That's ridiculous," he said as the audience applauded. Dallas Morning News: Jay Godwin Gov. Bill Clements . . . details major issues. bALL AS No110 1A/4 /A- los le 24411 / fed • • ,