HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 70
(By Delegates Martin, Michael, Mezzatesta, Beach, Buchanan,
Campbell, Collins, Compton, Fleischauer, Proudfoot, and
Willis)
Requesting Congress to fully allocate funding to counties for
payments in lieu of taxes
.
Whereas, Many counties in West Virginia contain large tracts
of publicly owned National Forests; and
Whereas
, These counties experience a critical loss of tax
revenue needed for the funding of schools, libraries, emergency
medical services, law enforcement and other essential public
services because federal property is tax exempt; and
Whereas
, The federal government, recognizing the undue burden
placed on these counties by hosting such federal lands, has
allocated to counties payments in lieu of taxes which are less
than taxes generated by privately held land of similar
character; and
Whereas
, The federal government now anticipates a significant
budget surplus; and
Whereas
, Congress has failed, in the last several years, to
increase allocations to an amount equal to regular property tax
collections; therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Delegates:
That Congress is urged to not only fully allocate funding
to counties for payments in lieu of taxes, but also to increase
the level of payments so that West Virginia's school systems and
local governments are not unduly penalized; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk OF THE hof the House forward a
copy of this resolution to Congress.