FISCAL NOTE

Date Requested: February 16, 2021
Time Requested: 01:40 PM
Agency: Secretary of State
CBD Number: Version: Bill Number: Resolution Number:
2060 Introduced HB2525
CBD Subject:


FUND(S):

N/a

Sources of Revenue:

Other Fund N/a

Legislation creates:

Increases Existing Expenses



Fiscal Note Summary


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


State government does not pay for elections; the financial burdens of administering an election rest on each of the 55 counties.



Fiscal Note Detail


Effect of Proposal Fiscal Year
2021
Increase/Decrease
(use"-")
2022
Increase/Decrease
(use"-")
Fiscal Year
(Upon Full
Implementation)
1. Estmated Total Cost 0 0 0
Personal Services 0 0 0
Current Expenses 0 0 0
Repairs and Alterations 0 0 0
Assets 0 0 0
Other 0 0 0
2. Estimated Total Revenues 0 0 0


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


Adding municipal races to county ballots during statewide election cycles will have an insignificant financial impact on counties' existing expenses. Legal advertisements, and voting machine/ballot programming and printing are the main costs that will increase. The amounts of the increase, however, are unknown by the state and should be requested from the counties directly. For efficiency, perhaps through the County Clerks' Association.



Memorandum


There may be municipal elections currently scheduled in the year 2021 but after the July 1 effective date. Also, most larger town/cities established their election date via charter. Mandating a change would require a charter change. However, the charter amendment procedures in W. Va. Code 8-4-7 and 8-4-8 do not contemplate statutory mandates--rather, the municipality has discretion to change the charter. Recommend language in the bill to mandate all towns/cities to change their charter, if necessary, via non-election or discretionary decision. Perhaps an ordinance or similar process contemplated in W. Va. Code 8-4-8 without including any opportunities for objections is the most efficient procedure to adopt.



    Person submitting Fiscal Note: Donald Kersey
    Email Address: dkersey@wvsos.gov