Honorable Joe Straus, Speaker of the House, House of Representatives
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1198 by Raymond (Relating to authorizing an optional county fee on vehicles registered in certain counties to fund transportation projects. ), As Passed 2nd House
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend Chapter 502 of the Transportation Code to authorize certain counties to impose an optional county fee for of up to $10 for transportation projects for registering a vehicle in those counties. The new fee could be collected in addition to the existing optional county road and bridge fee authorized by Transportation Code, Section 502.401. The bill would require the revenue collected from the fee to be credited to the county road and bridge fund. One hundred percent of revenue from the fee goes to the county's regional mobility authority to fund long-term transportation projects in the county. The provisions would apply only to a county that borders the United Mexican States and has a population of more than 250,000. Based on the applicability criteria, Cameron, El Paso, Hidalgo, and Webb counties would be eligible.
The Comptroller's office and the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) report that bill would not impact the State's cash flow but it would increase revenue to the County Road and Bridge Fund in the applicable counties. Based on the information provided by DMV, it is assumed any costs or duties associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be absorbed within existing resources.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2013.
Local Government Impact
The potential revenue gain to applicable counties would vary depending on any incremental increase in the amount of the optional fee charged by the county and the number of vehicles registered in the county.
Source Agencies:
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 601 Department of Transportation, 608 Department of Motor Vehicles