FISCAL NOTE
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.
The purpose of this bill is to exempt hunting and fishing licensees for all veterans of the Armed Forces or any reserve component thereof. There are an estimated 202,000 veterans residing in West Virginia. An estimated 50,500 of these veterans would be of licensable age and would hunt and/or fish in West Virginia. The fiscal impact of providing free hunting and fishing privileges to these individuals would be to decrease hunting and fishing license revenue to the Division of Natural Resources’ Wildlife and Law Enforcement programs by an estimated $2,149,066 annually. The loss of these individuals as paid licenseholders would also reduce the State’s ability to capture federal aid revenue by an additional $169,680 annually, resulting in an estimated total revenue loss of $2,318,746 annually. The State of West Virginia currently awards free hunting and fishing license privileges to an estimated 40 percent of the state’s resident hunters and anglers, thus placing the total financial responsibility for supporting the state’s fish and wildlife management and law enforcement programs on those who are required to purchase licenses. The effect of this bill would be to significantly increase the weight of that responsibility on paid licenseholders.
Fiscal Note Detail
| Effect of Proposal |
Fiscal Year |
2011
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
2012
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 |
-2,318,746 |
-2,318,746 |
Explanation of above estimates (including long-range effect):
The purpose of this bill is to exempt hunting and fishing licensees for all veterans of the Armed Forces or any reserve component thereof.
Estimated number of veterans residing in West Virginia=202,000
Est. WV participation rate in hunting and/or fishing=25%
Est. # of licensable veterans who hunt and/or fish=202,000X25%=50,500
Est. annual license revenue per licensed sportsman=$42.56
Est. annual license revenue loss from 50,500 exemptions=50,500X$42.56=$2,149,066
Est. annual federal aid revenue per licensed hunter=$6.00
Est. WV participation rate in hunting=14%
Est. # of veteran hunters=202,000X14%=28,280
Est. annual federal aid revenue loss from 28,280 exemptions=28,280X$6=$169,680
Est. annual license and federal aid revenue loss=$2,314,415+$169,680=$2,318,746
Memorandum
The State of West Virginia currently awards free hunting and fishing license privileges to an estimated 40 percent of the state’s resident hunters and anglers, thus placing the total financial responsibility for supporting the state’s fish and wildlife management and law enforcement programs on those who are required to purchase licenses. The effect of this bill would be to significantly increase the weight of that responsibility on paid licenseholders. If this bill were enacted, the number of paid licenseholders would then be less than half of the total number of West Virginia hunters and anglers.
Person submitting Fiscal Note: Steve Brown
Email Address: Walter.S.Brown@wv.gov