HB 727-FN-A - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
28Feb2019... 0347h
2019 SESSION
19-0270
05/06
HOUSE BILL 727-FN-A
SPONSORS: Rep. Wolf, Merr. 5; Rep. Cloutier, Sull. 10; Rep. Carson, Merr. 7; Rep. Tanner, Sull. 9; Rep. Rodd, Merr. 6; Rep. Ebel, Merr. 5; Sen. Bradley, Dist 3; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Ward, Dist 8
COMMITTEE: Resources, Recreation and Development
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill makes 2 bonded appropriations to the department of natural and cultural resources for boat ramp and parking improvements at Mount Sunapee state park beach, one of which shall be paid from the public boat access fund.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
28Feb2019... 0347h 19-0270
05/06
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nineteen
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Mount Sunapee State Park Beach; Boat Ramp and Parking Improvements; Bonded Appropriation to the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources; Paid From General Funds.
I. The sum of $500,000 is hereby appropriated to department of natural and cultural resources, division of parks and recreations, for the biennium ending June 30, 2021, for the purpose of creating additional parking and improving the boat ramp at Mount Sunapee state park beach.
II. To provide funds for the appropriation made in paragraph I, the state treasurer is hereby authorized to borrow upon the credit of the state not exceeding the sum of $500,000 and for said purpose may issue bonds and notes in the name of and on behalf of the state of New Hampshire in accordance with RSA 6-A. Payments of principal and interest of the bonds and notes shall be made from the general fund of the state.
2 Mount Sunapee State Park Beach; Boat Ramp and Parking Improvements; Bonded Appropriation to the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources; Paid From Statewide Public Boat Access Fund.
I. The sum of $500,000 is hereby appropriated to department of natural and cultural resources, division of parks and recreations, for the biennium ending June 30, 2021, for the purpose of creating additional parking and improving the boat ramp at Mount Sunapee state park beach.
II. To provide funds for the appropriation made in paragraph I, the state treasurer is hereby authorized to borrow upon the credit of the state not exceeding the sum of $500,000 and for said purpose may issue bonds and notes in the name of and on behalf of the state of New Hampshire in accordance with RSA 6-A. Payments of principal and interest of the bonds and notes shall be made from the statewide public boat access fund established in RSA 233-A:13.
3 Mount Sunapee State Park Beach Project. The department of natural and cultural resources shall be responsible for the improvements to and operation of the boat ramp and parking at Mount Sunapee state park beach. The department of natural and cultural resources, on behalf of the state, may accept donations designated for the Mount Sunapee state park beach project and shall use such donations to offset project costs. The improved boat ramp shall be deemed to be a public boat access area as defined in RSA 233-A:1, IV.
4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2019.
19-0270
Revised 3/19/19
Amended 3/14/19
HB 727-FN-A- FISCAL NOTE
AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE (AMENDMENT #2019-0347h)
FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ ] Local [ ] None
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| ||||
| Estimated Increase / (Decrease) | ||||
STATE: | FY 2020 | FY 2021 | FY 2022 | FY 2023 | |
Appropriation | $0 | $1,000,000* | $0 | $0 | |
Revenue | $0 | Indeterminable | Indeterminable | Indeterminable | |
Expenditures | $0 | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase | |
Funding Source: | [ X ] General [ ] Education [ ] Highway [ ] Other | ||||
*Bonded appropriation (50% general fund and 50% public boat access fund)
METHODOLOGY:
This bill makes 2 bonded appropriations totaling $1,000,000 for the biennium ending June 30, 2021 to the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR), Division of Parks and Recreation, for the purpose of creating additional parking and improving the boat access ramp at Mount Sunapee State Park beach. $500,000 will be repaid from General Funds and $500,000 will be repaid from the Public Boat Access Fund (RSA 233-A:13). DNCR shall be responsible for the improvements to and operation of the boat ramp and parking at Mount Sunapee State Park beach. DNCR may accept donations to offset project costs. The improved boat ramp shall be a public boat access area as defined in RSA 233-A:13.
The Treasury Department reports the entire $1,000,000 will be issued by December 2019 (halfway through fiscal year 2020). A fixed coupon of 5% will be applied. The bonds will be amortized over 20 years, with debt service payments structured to accommodate the first principal payment in the autumn of the year following the debt issuance. The State generally repays 60% of the bonded principal amount in the first 10 years and 40% during the remaining 10 years. Total interest cost during the life of the bonds would be $475,000 ($237,500 General Funds and $237,500 other funds). The scheduled bond payments for FY 2020-FY 2023 (including principal and interest) are as follows, with half repaid from General Funds and half repaid from the Public Boat Access Fund:
Bond Payment (Principal and Interest) | FY 2020 | FY 2021 | FY 2022 | FY 2023 |
General Fund | $12,500 | $54,250 | $52,760 | $51,250 |
Boat Access Fund | $12,500 | $54,250 | $52,760 | $51,250 |
Total | $25,000 | $108,500 | $105,500 | $102,500 |
The Fish and Game Department states that plans, designs and construction cost estimates for the Mount Sunapee State Park Beach boat ramp, associated boat trailer parking, and maintenance expenses are unknown. Public boat access is normally afforded to the public without charge, which is not the same revenue model as the DNCR. The Public Boat Access Fund is a dedicated fund accounted for in the Fish and Game Department, but is not part of the Fish and Game Fund. Fish and Game states the unobligated cash balance of the account at the beginning of FY 2019 was $879,306. The $500,000 obligation created by this bill (plus interest expense of $237,500) would reduce the funds available for other public boat access sites within the state by that amount.
The Department of Natural and Cultural Resources will be responsible for improvements to and operation of the boat ramp and operation of the parking area, which is normally the purview of the Fish and Game Department pursuant to RSA 233-A. DNCR notes the improved boat ramp would be designated as a public boat access area as defined in RSA 233-A:1, IV. Because it is funded by the Public Boat Access Fund, DNCR would be unable to continue to collect fees for entrance to the park from the driver and the occupants of the vehicle, for the boat trailer, and for use of the larger park and beach as is done now. Potential revenue loss of admission fees at Mount Sunapee state park beach resulting from boaters and their guests who will have free access to the boat ramp and the beach area is not known. It is unknown if the expansion of the trailered parking and boat ramp improvements will decrease the state park beach visitor parking, resulting in the additional possible loss of revenue to the park. The Department states the $1,000,000 estimated project cost was based on an estimate from a consulting engineering firm and the final project cost is unknown. Dredging the channel based on the engineering plan is estimated to cost $125,000 but the Department does not know how often such work would be needed in the future or what funding source(s) would be available. Actual cost of the improvements, ongoing maintenance of the boat ramp, and any possible increased need for staff is unknown. DNCR cites the potential loss of park revenue from boaters granted free admission and possible displacement of paying beach users, as well as unknown increased operating and maintenance cost of the boat ramp, parking lot and channel as having an indeterminable negative financial impact to the State Park Fund.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Treasury Department, Fish and Game Department and Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 5, 2019 | House | Hearing |
| Feb. 13, 2019 | House | Exec Session |
| Feb. 27, 2019 | House | Floor Vote |
| March 14, 2019 | House | Hearing |
| March 18, 2019 | House | Exec Session |
| Oct. 16, 2019 | House | Exec Session |
| House | Floor Vote |
Jan. 8, 2020: Inexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 01/08/2020 HJ 1 P. 51
: Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate (Vote 19-0; CC) HC 50 P. 13
Oct. 16, 2019: Executive Session: 10/16/2019 10:15 am LOB 201
: Retained in Committee
March 18, 2019: Executive Session: 03/18/2019 09:30 am LOB 201
March 14, 2019: Public Hearing: 03/14/2019 10:00 am LOB 201
Feb. 28, 2019: Referred to Public Works and Highways 02/28/2019 HJ 7 P. 22
Feb. 28, 2019: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2019-0347h: MA VV 02/28/2019 HJ 7 P. 21
Feb. 28, 2019: Amendment # 2019-0347h: AA VV 02/28/2019 HJ 7 P. 21
Feb. 27, 2019: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2019-0347h for 02/27/2019 (Vote 19-0; RC) HC 13 P. 25
Feb. 13, 2019: Executive Session: 02/13/2019 10:00 am LOB 305
Feb. 5, 2019: Public Hearing: 02/05/2019 01:45 pm LOB 305
Jan. 3, 2019: Introduced 01/03/2019 and referred to Resources, Recreation and Development HJ 3 P. 28