SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 37
(By Senators Snyder, Unger and Browning)
Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study
the Division of Highways' county highway formula and determine
a better means for allocating resources and moneys to the
vastly different areas throughout the state.
Whereas, The Division of Highways currently allocates its
resources and money according to the county highway formula, which
is calculated based on miles per lane of road receiving snow
removal and ice control treatment; and
Whereas, The Legislature of West Virginia is mindful of the
financial constraints the Division of Highways faces on a yearly
basis and how those constraints are exacerbated in years of extreme
weather; and
Whereas, The current economy and recent laws have decreased
the fuel tax, vehicle registration and other licensing fees which
have depleted the Division of Highways budget even further; and
Whereas, The oversight, hard work and management by everyone
at the Division of Highways has helped to improve the roads and
highways in the State of West Virginia; and
Whereas, All fifty-five counties deserve an adequate level of
service which may be better served by a new formula that is based on more than lanes per mile of road; and
Whereas, A better indicator of where the Division of Highways
should allocate its physical resources and money would be to add
factors which should include, but not be limited to, traffic and
truck counts, elevation and geology of the soil; and
Whereas, The Division of Highways funding is diminishing and
new revenue sources are required to continue to maintain roadway
and bridge design, construction and maintenance; and
Whereas, A new county highway formula would facilitate an
adequate level of service to all counties in the state; therefore,
be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby
requested to study the Division of Highways' funding sources in
addition to the county highway formula and determine a better means
for allocating resources and moneys to the vastly different areas
throughout the state.
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2011, 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.