Fiscal Note & Local Impact Statement

127 ^th General Assembly of Ohio

Ohio Legislative Service Commission

77 South High Street, 9^th Floor, Columbus, OH 43215-6136 ² Phone: (614) 466-3615

² Internet Web Site: http://www.lsc.state.oh.us/

BILL:	Sub. H.B. 68		DATE:	March 26, 2008
STATUS:	As Reported by House Infrastructure, Homeland Security, and Veterans Affairs		SPONSOR:	Rep. Wolpert
LOCAL IMPACT STATEMENT REQUIRED:		No —	Permissive

CONTENTS:

To name two memorial highways in Franklin County and two memorial bridges in Ross County

State Fiscal Highlights

STATE FUND	FY 2009	FY 2010	FUTURE YEARS
Highway Operating Fund (Fund 7002)
Revenues	- 0 -	- 0 -	- 0 -
Expenditures	Minimal increase for markers	Potential minimal increase to maintain markers	Potential minimal increase to maintain markers

Note: The state fiscal year is July 1 through June 30. For example, FY 2009 is July 1, 2008 – June 30, 2009.

· The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) may experience minimal costs to install suitable markers along the designated portions of I-270, SR-207, US-62, and US-50. There may be future maintenance costs for routine upkeep or for repairs if the markers are damaged.

Local Fiscal Highlights

LOCAL GOVERNMENT		FY 2008	FY 2009	FUTURE YEARS
Municipalities – Chillicothe
Revenues	- 0 -		- 0 -	- 0 -
Expenditures	Minimal increase for markers		Potential minimal increase to maintain markers	Potential minimal increase to maintain markers

Note: For most local governments, the fiscal year is the calendar year. The school district fiscal year is July 1 through June 30.

· If ODOT chooses not to erect the markers, municipalities may install markers on the designated portions of I-270, SR-207, US-62, and US-50 within municipal boundaries at a minimal cost. There could also be some future upkeep and repair costs if these markers are installed.

Detailed Fiscal Analysis

The bill designates portions of Interstate Route 270 within Franklin County as the "Trooper Wendy G. Everett Memorial Highway" and the "Trooper Jody S. Dye Memorial Highway," and names a portion of United States Route 62 in southwestern Franklin County as the "Patrolman Jerry R. Neff Memorial Highway." In addition, the bill also designates the bridge spanning the North Fork Creek along United States Route 50 as the "Deputy Lawrence Barnes Memorial Bridge," and names the bridge spanning the Scioto River along the connector portion of State Route 207 in Chillicothe as the "Don E. Carnes Bridge." Both bridges are in Ross County.

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) may experience minimal costs to install suitable markers, such as plaques or signs, along the designated portions of I-270, SR-207, US‑62, and US-50. Current costs to manufacture, install, and maintain a single set of memorial plaques or markers at one location are estimated to be a few hundred dollars, more or less, depending on the size of the marker(s), equipment and materials needed to install them, and the frequency of maintenance.

When a highway or bridge is designated as a memorial, the Department's policy is to first install a memorial plaque in a rest area, scenic overlook, recreational area, or other appropriate location.[1] If installation of a plaque is not practical, a marker is installed along the highway or near the bridge instead. At one location two plaques or two markers are usually installed, one in each direction.

More often than not, ODOT erects markers for memorial highways named through legislation. However, if ODOT chooses not to install the plaques or markers, municipalities may install such markers on the designated portions of I-270, SR-207, US-62, and US-50 within municipal boundaries at their expense. Costs to municipalities are likely to be minimal and estimated to be similar to those incurred by ODOT described above.

LSC fiscal staff: Jason Phillips, Budget Analyst

HB0068HR.doc/lb

[1] Ohio Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways, 2003.