FISCAL NOTE
FUND(S):
3200
Sources of Revenue:
Special Fund
Legislation creates:
Neither Program nor Fund
Fiscal Note Summary
Effect this measure will have on costs and revenues of state government.
Revised March 28, 2005.
Please see Fiscal Note Detail for cost estimates.
Estimating the potential impact on revenue of this proposal is difficult to do, because of the unknown reaction by the license buying public.
The Law Enforcement Section’s funding levels do not permit the hiring of additional officers. If funding could be obtained an estimate of costs is included.
Wildlife Resources estimated costs to the agency and private sector are significant and are displayed in the explanation of estimates.
Law Enforcement Section Costs for Conservation Officers:
Average Officer Per hour cost = $24.31
Officers required to enforce proposal = 85
Enforcement hours required weekly = 60
Total Weeks of stocking = 18
$24.31 X 85 X 18 X 60= $2,231,658 for Law Enforcement Conservation Officers.
Wildlife Resources Section Costs:
Signs needed to post streams: 125 Streams, 750 Miles
Cost of each sign: $32
include stream name, sign; closure sign and post
Signs spaced 150 feet apart
Number of signs = 26,400
Total sign cost for stocked stream sections = 26,400 x $32 = $844,800
Personnel cost to erect signs: $150 per man day x 1650 man days (1/2 hour per sign)
= $247,500
Personnel cost to maintain signs: 2 man years = $80,000
Constant maintenance will be required due to high rate of vandalism – cost unknown
Additional signs and labor will be needed to identify non-stocked section of stocked rivers: e.g. South Branch, Elk River, Greenbrier River, etc. – cost ~ $2.5 million annually
Lost private sector economic impact from lost fishing days: 58,500 days = $3.6 million annually
Annual loss to private sector from lost fishing days = $3.6 million * 95% = $3.4 million
Total DNR Wildlife Resources Section cost from bill:
First year $3.7 million
Thereafter $740,000 annually
Personal Services: Law Enforcement 2,231,658 annually + Wildlife Personal Services initial signing 247,500 + sign maintenance 80,000 = 2,559,158
Current Expenses: Sign Cost 844,800 + Additional signs and labor to identify non-stocked sections of stocked streams 2,500,000 = 3,344,800
Thereafter: Law annual cost 2,231,658 + Wildlife personnel doing maintenance of signs 80,000 +replacement of signs due to vandalism 660,000 = 2,971,658.
Fiscal Note Detail
| Effect of Proposal |
Fiscal Year |
2005
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
2006
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
Fiscal Year
(Upon Full
Implementation) |
| 1. Estmated Total Cost |
0 |
5,903,958 |
2,971,658 |
| Personal Services |
0 |
2,559,159 |
2,311,658 |
| Current Expenses |
0 |
3,344,800 |
660,000 |
| 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):
Law Enforcement Section Costs for Conservation Officers:
Average Officer Per hour cost = $24.31
Officers required to enforce proposal = 85
Enforcement hours required weekly = 60
Total Weeks of stocking = 18
$24.31 X 85 X 18 X 60= $2,231,658 for Law Enforcement Conservation Officers.
Wildlife Resources Section Costs:
Signs needed to post streams: 125 Streams, 750 Miles
Cost of each sign: $32
include stream name, sign; closure sign and post
Signs spaced 150 feet apart
Number of signs = 26,400
Total sign cost for stocked stream sections = 26,400 x $32 = $844,800
Personnel cost to erect signs: $150 per man day x 1650 man days (1/2 hour per sign)
= $247,500
Personnel cost to maintain signs: 2 man years = $80,000
Constant maintenance will be required due to high rate of vandalism – cost unknown
Additional signs and labor will be needed to identify non-stocked section of stocked rivers: e.g. South Branch, Elk River, Greenbrier River, etc. – cost ~ $2.5 million annually
Lost private sector economic impact from lost fishing days: 58,500 days = $3.6 million annually
Annual loss to private sector from lost fishing days = $3.6 million * 95% = $3.4 million
Total DNR Wildlife Resources Section cost from bill:
First year $3.7 million
Thereafter $740,000 annually
Personal Services: Law Enforcement 2,231,658 annually + Wildlife Personal Services initial signing 247,500 + sign maintenance 80,000 = 2,559,158
Current Expenses: Sign Cost 844,800 + Additional signs and labor to identify non-stocked sections of stocked streams 2,500,000 = 3,344,800
Thereafter: Law annual cost 2,231,658 + Wildlife personnel doing maintenance of signs 80,000 +replacement of signs due to vandalism 660,000 = 2,971,658.
Memorandum
The DNR’s major concern is the costs associated with enforcing the closed period on the rivers and streams would require significant personnel time on behalf of the Law Enforcement Section. The DNR’s funding levels do not allow for the hiring of additional law enforcement staff. The DNR would have to divert officers from current assignments, which could cause negative public reaction on other enforcement matters and could interfere with their Homeland Security and Emergency Response duties.
The requirement for publishing dates of stocking may attract anglers to poach because the proposal would be difficult to enforce. Published stocking dates may be inaccurate, because of weather and equipment impediments. This could lead to confusion among anglers.
Person submitting Fiscal Note: Keith Wilson
Email Address: kwilson@dnr.state.wv.us