121st Maine Legislature
Office of Fiscal and Program Review
LD 1857
An Act to Implement the Recommendations of the Task Force on the Planning and Development of Marine Aquaculture in Maine
LR 2749(02)
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
Committee: Marine Resources
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Majority Report
   
             
Fiscal Note
Projections Projections
2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07
Appropriations/Allocations
Other Special Revenue Funds $0 ($229,730) ($229,730) ($229,730)
Revenues
Other Special Revenue Funds $0 ($304,584) ($304,584) ($304,584)
Correctional and Judicial Impact Statements
Establishes new civil violations
Fiscal Detail and Notes
The repeal of the fees collected by the Aquaculture Monitoring, Research and Development Fund will result in a loss of dedicated revenues collected by the Department of Marine Resources.  This fund is budgeted to receive $395,994 in fiscal year 2004-05, although recent projections are in the $140,000 to $150,000 range.  The dedicated revenue for this fund is to be largely replaced with new and adjusted dedicated revenues which will be deposited into a newly established Aquaculture Monitoring Fund.
The annual dedicated revenues for the new Aquaculture Monitoring Fund are estimated to be $91,410 beginning in fiscal year 2004-05.  The department plans to use the existing balance in the Aquaculture Monitoring, Research and Development Fund to fund a currently authorized Marine Resources Scientist II position through the end of fiscal year 2004-05.  Beginning in fiscal year 2005-06, the department's budget will reflect the transfer of the Marine Resources Scientist II position to the newly established fund and annual Other Special Revenue Funds allocations of $91,410 will be required as of that fiscal year.  The allocation and revenue changes shown above will bring the net amounts down to the required $91,410.
The additional costs associated with maintaining a list of conserved lands can be absorbed by the State Planning Office utilizing existing budgeted resources.  Also, it is anticipated that the State Planning Office can use federal funds to assist in the study of bay management as proposed in Part B of the bill.