HB1743: relative to reimbursing towns for the operating expenses of certain railroad passenger facilities.

HB 1743-FN – AS INTRODUCED

2006 SESSION

06-2750

06/03

HOUSE BILL 1743-FN

AN ACT relative to reimbursing towns for the operating expenses of certain railroad passenger facilities.

SPONSORS: Rep. C. Robertson, Rock 13; Rep. S. Scamman, Rock 13; Rep. Casey, Rock 11

COMMITTEE: Municipal and County Government

ANALYSIS

This bill requires the state to reimburse towns and the university of New Hampshire for the annual operating expenses for passenger rail facilities served by the Amtrak Downeaster service.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

06-2750

06/03

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Six

AN ACT relative to reimbursing towns for the operating expenses of certain railroad passenger facilities.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 New Paragraph; Annual Operating Expenditures Related to Amtrak Downeaster Passenger Service. Amend RSA 228:66 by inserting after paragraph V the following new paragraph:

VI. Upon application, the commissioner of transportation shall reimburse the university system of New Hampshire, the city of Dover, and the town of Exeter for their annual operating expenditures for passenger rail station facilities served by the Amtrak Downeaster rail service.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2006.

LBAO

06-2750

12/14/05

HB 1743-FN - FISCAL NOTE

AN ACT relative to reimbursing towns for the operating expenses of certain railroad passenger facilities.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The University System of New Hampshire, New Hampshire Municipal Association and Department of Transportation indicate this bill will increase state expenditures by $172,855 in FY 2007, $174,999 in FY 2008, $177,250 in FY 2009 and $179,613 in FY 2010, and increase state revenue by $42,875 in FY 2007, $45,019 in FY 2008, $47,270 in FY 2009 and $49,633 in FY 2010, and increase local revenue by $129,980 in FY 2007 and each year thereafter. There will be no fiscal impact on county and local expenditures or county revenue.

METHODOLOGY:

The University System of New Hampshire (USNH), New Hampshire Municipal Association (NHMA) and Department of Transportation (DOT) state that this bill requires the state to reimburse towns and the University of New Hampshire for the annual operating expenses for passenger rail facilities served by the Amtrak Downeaster.

USNH estimates that state revenue will increase to USNH representing costs reimbursed to cover Amtrak Downeaster related expenditures of $42,875. This estimate includes the following:

$ 2,400 quik-trak service contract

$ 500 platform maintenance

$ 975 platform lease charge

$39,000 liability insurance

$42,875

USNH further states that these costs are estimated to increase by 5% each year.

NHMA, using estimates from the city of Dover and Town of Exeter, determined that local revenue would increase by $129,980 (Dover $63,980 plus Exeter $66,000) in FY 2007 and each year thereafter. The City of Dover’s estimate includes the following:

$13,500 parking lot plowing

LBAO

06-2750

12/14/05

$ 9,096 train station utilities

$ 4,072 parking lot utilities

$ 1,959 maintenance

$ 3,552 platform lease charge

$31,801 liability insurance

$63,980

The Town of Exeter’s estimate of $66,000 includes $53,900 for liability insurance and $12,100 for all other costs.

DOT states that state expenditures will be increase to reimburse the City of Dover, Town of Exeter and USNH as summarized below:

FY 2007 FY 2008 FY 2009 FY 2010

State Revenue

USNH $42,875 $45,019 $47,270 $49,633

Local Revenue

Dover $ 63,980 $ 63,980 $ 63,980 $ 63,980

Exeter 66,000 66,000 66,000 66,000

$129,980 $129,980 $129,980 $129,980

State Expenditures

DOT $172,855 $174,999 $177,250 $179,613