HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 118
(By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Thompson, and Delegates Boggs, Campbell,
Caputo, Fragale, Guthrie, Hatfield, Mahan, Marshall, Miley,
Morgan, Paxton, Perdue, M. Poling, Stephens, Talbott, Varner,
Webster and White)
Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study,
analyze and evaluate the operating practices, administrative
procedures and legal issues associated with the state
administration of the Division of Highways and discrepancies
in projections made by the Division of Highways.
Whereas, Highway infrastructure is vitally important to the
economic development of West Virginia; and
Whereas, The American Recovery Reinvestment Act recognizes
highway maintenance and construction as a key element of both short
term and long term job creation and retention; and
Whereas, West Virginia is due to receive $210 million in
federal highway stimulus funds; and
Whereas, The 78th West Virginia Legislature appropriated $40
million to the Division of Highways to make up any shortfall due to
the temporary freezing of the state gas tax; and
Whereas, State Transportation Secretary Paul Mattox said at the
time that "he was confident the $40 million infusion of surplus
revenue will help assure that the division won't have to defer
planned road projects in 2009;" and
Whereas, The Division of Highways only utilized $13 million of that $40 million appropriation; and
Whereas, The Deputy Commissioner of Transportation Paul Turman
now reports that by allowing the state gas tax to go down by .05
cents a gallon consumers will realize a savings of only $40 per
year; and
Whereas, That estimate differs from the one provide by Governor
Manchin last year by 25 to 33 percent; and
Whereas, Deputy Commissioner Turman reports that the state
master plan relied on a tax increase through the end of 2014 in
drawing up its plan for construction plans despite the fact that no
such tax increase had been provided for by statute; and
Whereas, Deputy Commissioner Turman now reports that the total
amount of lost Road Fund revenue will be $350 million through 2014;
therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby
requested to study, analyze and evaluate the operating practices,
administrative procedures and legal issues associated with the
state administration of the Division of Highways and discrepancies
in projections made by the Division of Highways; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance report the Legislature on the first day of the regular
session, 2010, on its findings, conclusions and recommendations
together with drafts of any legislation to effectuate its
recommendations; and, be it
Further Resolved,That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, prepare a report and the drafting of necessary
legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint
Committee on Government and Finance.