FISCAL NOTE

Date Requested: February 02, 2022
Time Requested: 02:30 PM
Agency: Natural Resources, WV Division of
CBD Number: Version: Bill Number: Resolution Number:
1409 Introduced SB565
CBD Subject: Natural Resources


FUND(S):

0265, 3200

Sources of Revenue:

General Fund

Legislation creates:

Creates New Program



Fiscal Note Summary


Effect this measure will have on costs and revenues of state government.


The purpose of the proposed legislation is to allow residents and nonresidents vehicular access for the purpose of wildlife viewing on all state owned property, via roads, fire roads, access roads and roads normally gated. Access would be permitted by regularly licensed motorized vehicles, excluding ATVs or UTVs, to travel said roads between Memorial Day and Labor Day each year. This privilege is proposed as a stamp that is purchased in addition to the cost of a base hunting or fishing license, or in addition to possession of a Class Q License [sic]. This privilege would be extended to all state-owned land except those “prohibited by rules of the director”. All revenue from this stamp would be dedicated exclusively to wildlife resources program expenses. Coopers Rock and Kanawha state forests would be excluded. If this activity were allowed on Wildlife Management Areas, there would be a potential for a federal audit finding that West Virginia had diverted real property from its intended use (hunting and fishing) and West Virginia would be required to pay back the purchase price of the land plus be ineligible to participate in federal grant programs which bring $12-16 million per year to the state. Therefore, Wildlife Management Areas would be excluded from this program by rules of the Director. In order to estimate costs of such a program, a pilot study was conceived to improve 46 miles of unimproved roads on State Park property. This resulted in an initial cost of $11,187,060, ($243,196 per mile) and a yearly maintenance cost of $198,279. In order to estimate revenue, the stamp price was arbitrarily set at $10. Purchase rate was set at 10% for already licensed Wildlife Viewers and 5% of unlicensed viewers.



Fiscal Note Detail


Effect of Proposal Fiscal Year
2022
Increase/Decrease
(use"-")
2023
Increase/Decrease
(use"-")
Fiscal Year
(Upon Full
Implementation)
1. Estmated Total Cost 0 11,187,060 198,279
Personal Services 0 0 166,079
Current Expenses 0 0 0
Repairs and Alterations 0 10,056,060 32,200
Assets 0 1,131,000 0
Other 0 0 0
2. Estimated Total Revenues 0 0 193,104


Explanation of above estimates (including long-range effect):


Estimated costs are based on a pilot project bringing 46-miles of unimproved State Parks roads up to Division of Highways standards for gravel roads. First year costs include the purchase of heavy equipment to make the road improvements and conduct future maintenance. Equipment costs include: 750 class bulldozer ($375,000),130 class excavator ($240,000), a mulcher head for excavator ($50,000), tri-axle dump truck ($220,000), dual-axle dump truck ($200,000), and 2 trailers to haul the equipment ($23,000 each). Repairs and alterations costs are estimated from a per mile cost provided by WVDOH of $218,610 per mile. This seems reasonable when needing approximately 59 truck loads of gravel to provide 4-inches by 12-feet of gravel per mile plus the cost of transportation, labor to install, plus filter fabric, culverts, ditching, etc. Continued maintenance costs are based on hiring 4 individuals at $15 per hour plus benefits to run the equipment/program plus a $700 per mile cost of yearly maintenance for a gravel road as provided by WVDOH. Revenue is estimated from 6,051 ($10 per person) currently licensed participants and 4,018 unlicensed participants ($33 per person) purchasing a base license plus stamp. Participation is based off of estimates of “Wildlife Viewing Away From Home” as provided in the 2016 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation conducted by the USFWS and US Census Bureau.



Memorandum






    Person submitting Fiscal Note: Amanda Morris
    Email Address: amanda.l.morris@wv.gov