122nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 2041		LR 3152(01)
	An Act To Enhance Maine's Energy Independence and Security
	Fiscal Note for Original Bill
	Sponsor: Rep. Fletcher of Winslow
	Committee: Utilities and Energy
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
					Projections	Projections
			2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09
Net Cost (Savings)
	General Fund		$0	$20,000	$0	$0
	Highway Fund		$0	$19,908	$23,184	$28,169
Appropriations/Allocations
	General Fund		$0	$20,000	$0	$0
	Other Special Revenue Funds		$0	$150,797	$160,561	$165,196
Revenue
	Highway Fund		$0	($19,908)	($23,184)	($28,169)
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This bill will reduce Highway Fund revenue by an estimated $19,908 in fiscal year 2006-07 as a result of the change in the special fuel tax rate.
	This legislation will require an Other Special Revenue Funds allocation to the Public Utilities Commission of $150,797 in fiscal year 2006-07, $160,561 in fiscal year 2007-08 and $165,196 in fiscal year 2008-09 for one Utility Analyst position, required contractual services of an estimated $50,000 and general operating expenses.
	This bill includes a General Fund appropriation of $20,000 in fiscal year 2006-07 to the Department of Transportation to reimburse the Highway Fund for the anticipated loss of certain excise tax revenue.  Because an appropriation will set up an extra account code structure from which expenditures would be made, a more proper and efficient way to reimburse the Highway Fund would be to transfer from the General Fund directly to the Highway Fund.  This avoids making the Department of Transportation budget, allot, expend and track from both the General Fund and the Highway Fund for the same purposes.  If the transfer is one-time, it should be from unappropriated surplus in the General Fund to unallocated surplus of the Highway Fund.  If the transfer is to occur every year, it should be an annual transfer from undedicated revenue in the General Fund to Highway Fund revenue.