FISCAL NOTE



FUND(S):

Supreme Court Public Campaign Financing Fund

Sources of Revenue:

Other Fund see above

Legislation creates:

A New Program,A New Fund



Fiscal Note Summary


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


The state purpose of this bill is to create a system for public funding of election campaigns for candidates for the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, who agree to and do abide by restrictions on campaign contributions from private sources and limits on campaign spending, to avoid creating an appearance of impropriety in the event those candidates are later elected to the court. According to our interpretation, a taxpayer may designate that up to $3 of “taxes” be deposited into the Supreme Court Public Campaign Financing Fund pursuant to a check off program to be developed by the Tax Commissioner. This check off would not be a donation from a refund but a direction by the taxpayer that $3 in taxes be directed to the Supreme Court Public Campaign Financing Fund upon appropriation from the General Fund to the Supreme Court Public Campaign Financing Fund. The State Tax Department estimates that General Revenue Fund collections could decrease by roughly $260,000 from the passage of this bill. Additional administrative costs to the State Tax Department associated with this bill would be minimal.



Fiscal Note Detail


Effect of Proposal Fiscal Year
2009
Increase/Decrease
(use"-")
2010
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 -260,000


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


According to our interpretation, a taxpayer may designate that up to $3 of “taxes” be deposited into the Supreme Court Public Campaign Financing Fund pursuant to a check off program to be developed by the Tax Commissioner. This check off would not be a donation from a refund but a direction by the taxpayer that $3 in taxes be directed to the Supreme Court Public Campaign Financing Fund upon appropriation from the General Fund to the Supreme Court Public Campaign Financing Fund. The State Tax Department estimates that General Revenue Fund collections could decrease by roughly $260,000 from the passage of this bill. Additional administrative costs to the State Tax Department associated with this bill would be minimal.



Memorandum






    Person submitting Fiscal Note: Mark Muchow
    Email Address: kpetry@tax.state.wv.us