S TRAN SCR ORG4 2-28

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 75

(By Senators Beach, Kirkendoll, Fitzsimmons, Plymale, Williams, Cole and Walters)

[Originating in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure]

Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study providing each county commission authority to participate in the construction and maintenance planning of its roads and bridges and to impose taxes and provide for the financing of such transportation infrastructure construction.

    Whereas, Safe roads and bridges are vital and essential to West Virginia’s economic development and public health and safety; and

    Whereas, The West Virginia Department of Transportation is responsible for the sixth-largest state-maintained highway network in the nation based on roadway mileage; and

    Whereas, With approximately thirty-six thousand miles of public roads, West Virginia is one of only four states in which no local municipalities share ownership; and

    Whereas, State government is responsible for over ninety-two percent of public highways; and

    Whereas, Counties have no structure or mechanism for funding road maintenance; and

    Whereas, Providing county commissions with greater ability to influence road and bridge development in renovation and new construction may increase economic development and the safety of West Virginia’s transportation infrastructure; and

    Whereas, Alternative funding mechanisms are essential to developing and progressing road and bridge projects; and

    Whereas, Providing county commissions with the authority to impose taxes and fees to aid the construction and maintenance of transportation infrastructure could be one such alternative funding mechanism; and

    Whereas, The Legislature should consider giving county commissions authority to contribute to the improvement of West Virginia’s roads and bridges; therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to study providing each county commission authority to participate in the construction and maintenance planning of its roads and bridges and to impose taxes and provide for the financing of such transportation infrastructure construction; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2015, on its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.