FISCAL NOTE
Date Requested: March 14, 2025
Time Requested: 08:30 AM |
| Agency: |
Natural Resources, WV Division of |
|---|
| CBD Number: |
Version: |
Bill Number: |
Resolution Number: |
| 2345 |
Introduced |
SB752 |
|
|---|
| CBD Subject: |
Natural Resources |
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|
FUND(S):
Special
Sources of Revenue:
Special Fund 0265, 3200
Legislation creates:
Creates New Program
Fiscal Note Summary
Effect this measure will have on costs and revenues of state government.
Summarize in a clear and concise manner what impact this measure will have on costs and revenues of state government.
The purpose of the proposed legislation is to allow resident and nonresident Class Q hunting permit holders 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. This privilege is proposed as a stamp that is purchased in addition to a hunting or fishing license or Class Q permit [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 potential interference with wildlife reproduction and hunter use. This could lead to a federal audit finding that West Virginia had diverted real property from its intended use 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 the 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 to 22% for already licensed Class Q wildlife viewers and 1% for unlicensed wildlife viewers that may take part in the program.
Fiscal Note Detail
| Effect of Proposal |
Fiscal Year |
2025
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
2026
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 |
116,136 |
Explanation of above estimates (including long-range effect):
Please explain increases and decreases in personal services, current expenses, repairs and alterations, assets, other costs and revenues, including assumptions and data sources and delineation between start-up and ongoing costs. Please also include a long-range schedule of costs and revenues if fiscal impact is expected to vary in future years.
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 truckloads 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 849 currently licensed Class Q participants ($10 per person) and 3262 unlicensed participants that potentially may take part in the program purchasing a base license plus stamp ($33 per person). Participation is based on estimates of "Wildlife Viewing Away From Home" as provided in the 2022 and 2016 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation conducted by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and information pulled from the WVDNR Electronic Licensing System.
Memorandum
Please identify any areas of vagueness, technical defects, reasons a bill would not have a fiscal impact, and/or any special issues not captured elsewhere on this form.
For Additional Information Contact:
Zack Brown, WV DNR Wildlife Resources Section
zack.j.brown@wv.gov
Phone
304-558-2771
Person submitting Fiscal Note: Keith Wilson
Email Address: keith.m.wilson@wv.gov