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F I S C A L   I M P A C T   R E P O R T

 

 

 

SPONSOR:

Tripp

 

DATE TYPED:

 1/30/03

 

HB

HJR 3

 

SHORT TITLE:

Transfer VLA  Property

 

SB

 

 

 

ANALYST:

Geisler

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY03

FY04

FY03

FY04

 

 

 

 

Minimal

Minimal

Non-Rec

Public Building Repair Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

General Services Department

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of Bill

 

The Joint Resolution authorizes transfer of ownership of the visitor center at the Very Large Array (VLA) west of Socorro to the National Science Foundation, a federal government agency.

 

    Significant Issues

 

The visitor center is operated by the National Science Foundation.  The land (1.263 acres) was deeded from the federal government to the State in 1981 and the building was constructed with state dollars.  The National Science Foundation has requested the property be returned.

 

Needed repairs for this facility are low priority for scarce state dollars, especially considering the many unmet repair needs at state correctional, health, and office facilities.

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

According to the GSD, the State will avoid maintenance and repair costs of the visitor center by returning the property ownership to the federal government.

 

 

 

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

 

The primary mission of the Property Control Division (PCD) of the General Services Department (GSD) is to provide cost-effective space for state government operations.  Transfer of this federally-operated facility will allow the facility to be better maintained and will not impact PCD activities. 

 

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL

 

The VLA Visitors Center will continue to be a state-owned facility, and low on the state’s priority list for any needed repairs or upgrades.

 

GG/yr