FISCAL NOTE

Date Requested: February 18, 2025
Time Requested: 04:52 PM
Agency: Tax & Revenue Department, WV State
CBD Number: Version: Bill Number: Resolution Number:
1952 Introduced HB2590
CBD Subject:


FUND(S):

General Revenue Fund, local governments

Sources of Revenue:

General Fund local property tax revenue

Legislation creates:

Decreases Existing Revenue, Increases Existing Expenses



Fiscal Note Summary


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


The stated purpose of this bill is to exempt law-enforcement officers, who are members of a municipal paid police department, county sheriff’s office, or the State Police, from payment of income and personal property taxes. The revenue impact of this proposal on Property Tax collections cannot be determined. We have no data on the type and value of personal property owned by law enforcement officers. However, the potential revenue loss to local governments would be significant. We are also unable to estimate the revenue impact from the Personal Income Tax modification in this bill. We have little reliable data on the amount of income which would be received by eligible law enforcement officers. The bill does not state that the income must be from the taxpayer’s work as a law enforcement officer. The potential loss of the State General Revenue Fund would be significant. Additional administrative costs incurred by the State Tax Department to administer the Personal Income Tax exemption would be $42,150 in FY2027 and $38,000 in subsequent fiscal years. Additional costs to the State Tax Department and local governments related to the Property Tax Exemption cannot be determined.



Fiscal Note Detail


Effect of Proposal Fiscal Year
2025
Increase/Decrease
(use"-")
2026
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 0


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


The revenue impact of this proposal on Property Tax collections cannot be determined. We have no data on the type and value of personal property owned by law enforcement officers. However, the potential revenue loss to local governments would be significant. We are also unable to estimate the revenue impact from the Personal Income Tax modification in this bill. We have little reliable data on the amount of income which would be received by eligible law enforcement officers. The bill does not state that the income must be from the taxpayer’s work as a law enforcement officer. The potential loss of the State General Revenue Fund would be significant. Additional administrative costs incurred by the State Tax Department to administer the Personal Income Tax exemption would be $42,150 in FY2027 and $38,000 in subsequent fiscal years. Additional costs to the State Tax Department and local governments related to the Property Tax Exemption cannot be determined.



Memorandum


The stated purpose of this bill is to exempt law-enforcement officers, who are members of a municipal paid police department, county sheriff’s office, or the State Police, from payment of income and personal property taxes. The bill does not state that the income must be from the individual’s work as a law enforcement officer. Therefore, all income received by a law enforcement officer could be subject to this modification. The bill does not define law enforcement officer.



    Person submitting Fiscal Note: Mark Muchow
    Email Address: RADfiscal@wv.gov