FISCAL NOTE

Date Requested: February 17, 2017
Time Requested: 12:22 PM
Agency: Natural Resources, WV Division of
CBD Number: Version: Bill Number: Resolution Number:
2456 Introduced SB345
CBD Subject: Natural Resources


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.


This bill will eliminate the restriction of Sunday hunting on private lands only. The typical hunter spends on average $133 per day while hunting. The average hunter hunts 13 days each year. Based on current hunting season schedules, an estimated 25 additional days of hunting will be available for use by hunters. Given 25% of hunters take advantage of the added days, an estimated 27,772 hunters would participate in Sunday hunting by West Virginia hunters. Based on these estimates, the annual economic impact of adding Sunday hunting will generate an estimated increase of $9,249,437 (=27,772 hunters X $333 per year) to the State’s economy. An estimated annual increase of $591,694 will be added to the State’s coffers generated as tax revenue from the estimated $9,249,437. The fiscal impact to the Division of Natural Resources will be minimal because hunters will have already acquired a hunting license, and few hunters will purchase a license just to hunt on additional Sundays.



Fiscal Note Detail


Effect of Proposal Fiscal Year
2017
Increase/Decrease
(use"-")
2018
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 0 591,964 591,964


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


Given: Total WV Hunters (Source: US Fish & Wildlife Survey, 2011) 246,864 Days spent hunting (Source: US Fish & Wildlife Survey. 2011) 3,166,367 Total Expenditure for hunting (Source: US Fish & Wildlife Survey, 2011) $421,819,113 Avg $ spent per day hunting = (Source: US Fish & Wildlife Survey, 2011) $133.22 Average days spent hunting per hunter (Source: US Fish & Wildlife Survey, 2011) 13 WV counties currently open to Sunday Hunting 33 Total WV Counties 55 % of counties allowing Sunday hunting = (33/55)= 60% Calculations: Estimate hunters hunting on Sundays, assume 25% = (246,864 X 25%) = 61,716 90% of hunters hunt on private land = (61,716 X 90%) = 55,544 Total additional hunting days given Sunday hunting open on private land = 25 Assume hunters will hunt only 25% of available Sundays (25 X 25%) 6.25 Potential additional revenue generated by each year per hunter for Sunday hunting ($133 per day X 6.25 days) = $833 Estimated additional revenue per year per hunter due to counties already open to Sunday hunting (40% of all counties, $833 X 40%) = $333 Estimated Sunday hunting hunters (assume 50% of private land hunters participate, = 55,544 X 50%) 27,772 Estimated economic impact to state for Sunday hunting in all 55 counties (27,772 hunters X $333 per year) $9,249,437 Percent for State Tax Revenue based on Southwick Associates calculations 6% Estimated State tax income for Sunday hunting on private lands only. $591,964



Memorandum






    Person submitting Fiscal Note: Randy L. Tucker
    Email Address: randy.l.tucker@wv.gov