HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 72


(By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kiss, and Delegates Stemple, Campbell, Amores, Anderson, Angotti, Ashley, Boggs, Cann, Capito, Caputo, Coleman, Collins, Compton, Dalton, Davis, Dempsey, Doyle, Evans, Everson, Flanigan, Fleischauer, Fletcher, Frederick, Hatfield, Hines, Houston, Hubbard, Hunt, Johnson, Kelley, Kominar, Kuhn, Laird, Leach, Leggett, Linch, Louisos, Mahan, Manchin, Manuel, Marshall, McGraw, Overington, Perdue, Pethtel, Pino, Proudfoot, Prunty, Romine, Rowe, Shelton, Smirl, J. Smith, Spencer, Susman, Tucker, Varner, Warner, Webb, C. White, Williams, Willis, Willison, Wills, Wright and Yeager)


Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to make a study of the economic effect of the managed timberland tax on funding, including educational, in counties in this state with disproportionate shares of timber resources.

Whereas, The managed timberland tax effect on counties with disproportionate shares of timber resources affects the ability to fund necessary county services; and
Whereas, Funding for education is especially impacted in these counties; and
Whereas, The economic use of the state's timber resources is a useful aim but should not be done to the detriment of the counties in the state with disproportionate shares of timber resources, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is requested to review, examine and study the effect of the managed timberland tax on the counties in this State with disproportionate shares of timber resources to determine the economic effect the tax has on each such county's ability to fund necessary governmental services including primary and secondary education and to make recommendations to the Legislature regarding the same; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance encourage the West Virginia Association of Counties, county assessors, others who represent the interests of counties, and representatives from the timber industry to assist and provide meaningful input into the study; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2000, on its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.