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F I S C A L   I M P A C T   R E P O R T

 

 

SPONSOR:

Griego

 

DATE TYPED:

3/3/03

 

HB

 

 

SHORT TITLE:

Study State Park Division Fee Schedule

 

SB

SM 44

 

 

ANALYST:

Maloy

 

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY03

FY04

FY03

FY04

 

 

 

NFI

 

Minimal—

See Narrative

Nonrecurring

General Fund

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

Duplicates HB18.

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

Responses Received From

Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, State Parks Division

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of Bill

 

Senate Memorial 44 requests the State Parks Division (Division) of the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department study the current Division fee schedule and park revenues to determine a fair and reasonable fee schedule. Thereafter, the Division is to report its findings to legislative finance committee and the interim legislative water and natural resources committee by September 1, 2003.

 

     Significant Issues: 

 

According to the State Parks Division, the following should be remember when considering this bill:

 

·        The Division generates 60% of its budget from self-generated revenue, including fees.  Thus, fees are critical concern for the Division.  In recent years fee revenues have been significantly impacted by a variety of natural forces, as well as changes to the fee schedule.

 

·        This study directs the Division to assess its fee schedule to best meet the demands of the visiting public.  As part of the review, the Division will need to study admission and camping user fees in addition to other existing and potential revenue sources. 

 

·        Updating the fee schedule will ensure that fees are fair, reasonable and not excessive, as well as ensuring the parks are as self supporting as possible as required in NMSA 1978, Section 16-2-7.

 

·        The Division believes that some changes to the existing fee schedule may be warranted in order to ensure fairness to all sectors of the public, respond to public demand for various fee options, such as annual passes, and evaluate revenue potential.  For example, the current fee schedule allows only New Mexico senior citizens and disabled veterans to purchase an annual camping pass.

 

·        The Division is always interested in new information and better approaches to improving its fee programs.  This study will be an important opportunity to proactively re-evaluate the Division’s fee schedule and other revenue sources, to report to the legislature, and to involve the legislature and the general public in any future decisions about fees. 

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

There is no appropriation in SM 44.There will be minimal, non-recurring costs to the state through the Energy, Mineral and Natural Resources Department, which will be required to commit FTE and budget resources to carrying out this study.  The State Parks Division of the Department has indicated a desire to pursue this memorial’s objectives and to absorb any costs related to doing so within its existing operating budget. 

 

SJM/yr