FISCAL NOTE



FUND(S):

State Road Fund

Sources of Revenue:

Other Fund State Road Fund

Legislation creates:

Neither Program nor Fund



Fiscal Note Summary


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


The stated purpose of this bill is to exempt special fuels and propane gas that are used for home heating purposes from the motor fuel excise tax. As written, the passage of this bill would result in a loss to the State Road Fund of up to $6 million per year. This bill provides a refundable exemption from the variable rate component of the Motor Fuel Excise Tax on sales of special fuel and propane for use in private dwellings. However, the bill is very broad in scope since it does not define “private dwelling”. For instance, it is unclear whether fuel used to heat a commercial apartment dwelling would be allowed a refund of the gasoline sales tax. There would be no additional administrative costs from the passage of this bill.



Fiscal Note Detail


Effect of Proposal Fiscal Year
2010
Increase/Decrease
(use"-")
2011
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 -6,000,000 -6,000,000


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


As written, the passage of this bill would result in a loss to the State Road Fund of up to $6 million per year. This bill provides a refundable exemption from the variable rate component of the Motor Fuel Excise Tax on sales of special fuel and propane for use in private dwellings. However, the bill is very broad in scope since it does not define “private dwelling”. For instance, it is unclear whether fuel used to heat a commercial apartment dwelling would be allowed a refund of the gasoline sales tax. It should also be noted that other home heating sources (e.g., natural gas, electricity) are also subject to state and local consumption taxes. Therefore, exempting special fuel and propane for home heating from Motor Fuel Sales Tax would create an tax preference for the use of these fuels in home heating rather than the use of electricity or natural gas. There would be no additional administrative costs from the passage of this bill.



Memorandum


The stated purpose of this bill is to exempt special fuels and propane gas that are used for home heating purposes from the motor fuel excise tax. This bill amends current W.Va. Code §11-14C-9 to include “all gallons of special fuel and propane used for heating private dwellings” to the refundable exemptions from the variable rate component of the Motor Fuel Excise Tax. However, there is no definition of “private dwellings”.



    Person submitting Fiscal Note: Mark Muchow
    Email Address: kerri.r.petry@wv.gov