| 122nd MAINE LEGISLATURE | |||||||||
| LD 2080 | LR 3122(02) | ||||||||
| An Act to Accelerate Private Investment in Maine's Wireless and Broadband Infrastructure | |||||||||
| Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " " | |||||||||
| 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 | $0 | $474,000 | $474,000 | |||||
| Revenue | |||||||||
| General Fund | $0 | $0 | ($474,000) | ($474,000) | |||||
| Other Special Revenue Funds | $0 | $0 | ($26,000) | ($26,000) | |||||
| Fiscal Detail and Notes | |||||||||
| This legislation will reduce Sales and Use Tax revenue by up to $500,000 beginning in fiscal year 2007-08. It establishes a ConnectMe Authority to be governed by a five member board. The authority is authorized to receive up to $500,000 of previously collected but unallocated funds within the Maine Universal Service Fund as start up funds but requires the authority to reimburse the fund for this one-time advance. It also establishes an assessment on communications service providers to fund the authority's operations and to pay back the universal services fund. The increase in revenue to the ConnectMe fund as a result of the proposed assessment can not be determined at this time and is contingent on the promulgation of major substantive rules. | |||||||||
| The legislation also stipulates that the Public Utilities Commission or any other state agency including the Governor's Office shall provide staff of up to 3 full-time positions as designated by the commission or agency. The authority may also retain additional staff if required, including an executive director. The Public Utilities Commission anticipates that they have the resources available to provide staff support to the Authority in fiscal year 2006-07. The future availability of commission staff resources during the next biennium can not be determined at this time. | |||||||||
| The additional costs associated with serving on the ConnectME Authority by the Chief Information Officer and the Chair of the Public Utilities Commission can be absorbed utilizing existing budgeted resources. The additional costs associated with serving on the ConnectME Advisory Council by a member of the Maine Technology Institute and a member representing the Small Enterprise Growth Fund can be absorbed utilizing existing budgeted resources. | |||||||||