COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH

OVERSIGHT DIVISION

FISCAL NOTE

L.R. No.:         3067-03

Bill No.:          SJR 43

Subject:           Transportation; Roads and Highways; Transportation Department; Constitutional                         Amendments; Treasurer, State

Type:              Original

Date:               February 27, 2008

Bill Summary:            This proposal distributes ten percent of general revenue growth to the State Road Fund and the State Transportation Fund.

FISCAL SUMMARY

Numbers within parentheses: ( ) indicate costs or losses.

This fiscal note contains 6 pages.

☒ Estimated Total Net Effect on All funds expected to exceed $100,000 savings or (cost).

☐ Estimated Net Effect on General Revenue Fund expected to exceed $100,000 (cost).

FISCAL ANALYSIS

ASSUMPTION

Officials at the Budget and Planning assume the proposed legislation should not result in additional costs or savings to the Division of Budget and Planning.

The proposal creates a transfer from General Revenue to the State Road Fund. Each July 1, the state treasurer is to calculate the difference between net general revenue collected in the just completed fiscal year and net general revenue in FY 08, and transfer 10% of this difference to the State Road Fund. This transfer will decrease general revenue available for other state programs.

Officials at the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) assume on increase in funds to the State Road Fund and the State Transportation Fund. MoDOT assumed a 4.5% general revenue growth rate based on its historical average. The estimate of the transfer to these funds is listed below:

(Amounts in Millions)

Officials at the Office of the State Treasurer assume they will need an FTE to calculate the increase in net general revenue and process the transfer of funds.

Officials at the Office of the Secretary of State (SOS) assume many joint resolutions are considered by the General Assembly that would require the SOS to pay for publishing in local newspapers the full text of each statewide ballot measure as directed by Article XII, Section 2(b) of the Missouri Constitution and Section 116.230-116.290, RSMo. The SOS is provided with

ASSUMPTION (continued)

core funding to handle a certain amount of normal activity resulting from each year’s legislative session. Funding for this item is adjusted each year depending upon the election cycle with $1.6 million historically appropriated in even numbered fiscal years and $100,000 appropriated in odd numbered fiscal years to meet these requirements. The appropriation has historically been an estimated appropriation because the final cost is dependent upon the number of ballot measures approved by the General Assembly and the initiative petitions certified for the ballot. In FY 2007 at the August and November elections there were 6 statewide Constitutional Amendments or ballot propositions that cost $1.2 million to publish (an average of $193,000 per issue). Therefore, the SOS assumes, for the purposes of this fiscal note, that it should have the full appropriation authority it needs to meet the publishing requirements. However, because these requirements are mandatory, we reserve the right to request funding to meet the cost of our publishing requirements if the Governor and the General Assembly change the amount or eliminate the estimated nature of our appropriation.

Oversight assumes the SOS could absorb the costs of advertising the statewide ballot measure related to this proposal within their current appropriation level. If multiple bills pass or if multiple ballot initiatives are validated which require similar advertising at substantial costs, the SOS could request funding through the appropriation process.

Oversight assumes that this is a constitutional amendment and would not impact state funds unless it is passed. Oversight has shown the impact as "$0 or loss or gain".

Oversight assumes that the Office of the State Treasurer can absorb the additional responsibilities with existing resources.

FISCAL IMPACT - Small Business

No direct fiscal impact to small businesses would be expected as a result of this proposal.

FISCAL DESCRIPTION

This proposed constitutional amendment allocates ten percent of the growth of general revenue to the State Road Fund and the State Transportation Fund. Beginning with FY 2010, ten percent of the growth in general revenue occurring between FY 2008 and FY 2009 shall be transferred to the State Road Fund and the State Transportation Fund, with the State Road Fund receiving 95% of the transfer and the State Transportation Fund receiving 5% of such amount. Any amount transferred to the State Road Fund shall stand appropriated without legislative action. For all subsequent fiscal years, the state treasurer must determine the amount to be transferred to the State Road Fund and State Transportation Fund by comparing the amount of net general revenue collected in the prior fiscal year and the amount of net general revenue collected in fiscal year 2008 (base fiscal year). Once the growth has been calculated, ten percent of the increase shall be transferred to the State Road Fund and State Transportation Fund, with the State Road Fund receiving 95% of such amount, and the State Transportation Fund receiving 5% of the increase. Moneys apportioned under this resolution are not included within the definition of "total state revenues" nor are they considered to be an "expense of state government" for purposes of the Hancock Amendment.

This legislation is not federally mandated, would not duplicate any other program and would not require additional capital improvements or rental space.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Missouri Department of Transportation

Office of the Secretary of State

Office of the State Treasurer

Budget and Planning

                                                                                                Mickey Wilson, CPA

                                                                                                Director

                                                                                                February 27, 2008