FISCAL NOTE
FUND(S):
3162
Sources of Revenue:
Special Fund
Legislation creates:
A New Program
Fiscal Note Summary
Effect this measure will have on costs and revenues of state government.
The purpose of this legislation is to create a new Division of Energy within the Department of Commerce. The Division will be created by removing the Office Coalfield Community Development and the Energy Efficiency Program from the West Virginia Development Office.The bill would also make the Division of Energy responsible for administering the functions of the West Virginia Public Energy Authority. The funding for this Division appears to come from the proceeds deposited in the Mountaintop Removal Fund.Therefore the estimates below are based on the increased amounts that the Division of Energy will require from this fund over the $694,104 that the Office of Coalfield Community Development was appropriated in fiscal year 2007.The estimates also include funds to pay the expenses of the Public Energy Authority. These expenses are currently being paid by the Coalfield Office.
Fiscal Note Detail
| Effect of Proposal |
Fiscal Year |
2007
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
2008
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
Fiscal Year
(Upon Full
Implementation) |
| 1. Estmated Total Cost |
0 |
305,896 |
1,000,000 |
| Personal Services |
0 |
156,000 |
467,874 |
| Current Expenses |
0 |
149,896 |
532,126 |
| Repairs and Alterations |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Assets |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Other |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2. Estimated Total Revenues |
694,104 |
305,896 |
1,000,000 |
Explanation of above estimates (including long-range effect):
The increase in Personal Services covers the cost of a new executive director, as called for in the legislation, as well as a secretay for the director along with the appropriate fringe benefits.The increase in current expense is to pay the operating expenses- rent, office expense, travel, etc of the new Division ,along with anticipated consultant expenses to perform some of the studies anticipated in this legislation.The increase in revenues represents the additional amount that the Department of Environmental Protection would have to collect and transfer to the new Division of Energy over what they are supposed to be transferring to the Office of Coalfield Community development presently.
Memorandum
In the portion of the bill dealing with the expenses of the Public Energy Authority ,such as public board member travel, it says that these expenses may only be reimbursed from funds of the authority or funds appropriated for such purpose by the Legislature. We are not aware of any funds currently being appropriated for this purpose.Can Division of Energy funds be used to pay Public Energy Authority expenses ?
Person submitting Fiscal Note: Carl D Smith
Email Address: csmith@wvdo.org