FISCAL NOTE
Date Requested: March 20, 2025
Time Requested: 01:43 PM |
| Agency: |
Auditor, State of WV |
|---|
| CBD Number: |
Version: |
Bill Number: |
Resolution Number: |
| 3764 |
Introduced |
SB835 |
|
|---|
| CBD Subject: |
Taxation |
|---|
|
FUND(S):
State Funds
Sources of Revenue:
General Fund
Legislation creates:
Creates New Expense, Increases Existing Expenses
Fiscal Note Summary
Effect this measure will have on costs and revenues of state government.
The purpose of proposed Senate Bill 835 is to decrease the service period for notice of tax lien sales and to decrease the statute of limitations for an action to set aside a deed.
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 |
226,400 |
214,400 |
| Personal Services |
0 |
214,400 |
214,400 |
| Current Expenses |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Repairs and Alterations |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Assets |
0 |
12,000 |
0 |
| Other |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2. Estimated Total Revenues |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Explanation of above estimates (including long-range effect):
The State Auditor’s Office believes the aims of the proposed Bill particularly with regard to reducing the deadline for providing of the Notice To Redeem from 30 days to 15 days would require the hiring of four new staff positions at a salary of $40,000 per year for a total of $160,000 per year. In addition, the attending employee benefits (employer retirement matching contributions, insurance expenses) would total approximately 34 percent of salary ($160,000 * .34 = $54,400). In addition, we anticipate the cost incurred to fully equip the required new staff hires with the equipment needed would total $3,000 per employee for a total of $12,000. Accordingly, the total cost requirement to add the additional four staff positions would total $226,400 in the initial year and $214,400 in future fiscal years. While the State Auditor's Office certainly agrees with the intent of the proposed legislation, the Land Division is currently operating at near full capacity in terms of work load and there is little capacity to fund an expansion of staff within the Division using special revenue funding. Accordingly, we believe the implementation of the proposed legislation would require an appropriation of funding from the State General Revenue Fund to facilitate it.
Memorandum
We would note the State Auditor’s Office believes the stipulation in the proposed Bill reducing the time frame to institute a civil action to set aside a deed from two years to one year could be implemented within the constraints of the staffing currently in place and at little or no additional cost to the taxpayers.
Person submitting Fiscal Note: Michael E. Sizemore, CPA
Email Address: Mike.Sizemore@wvsao.gov