Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
Local Government & Housing

HB 1172

Brief Description:  Authorizing additional fire protection district levies.

Sponsors:  Representatives Dunshee and Mulliken.

Brief Summary of Bill

$Extends authority for the additional fire protection district levy to a fire protection district which contracts with another municipal corporation for the services of at least one full time, paid employee.

$This authority also extends when the dollar rates of other taxing units are released by agreement from their levies.

Hearing Date:  2/1/01

Staff:  Scott MacColl (786‑7106).

Background: 

Fire Protection Districts are junior taxing districts that have the authority to issue bonds, and levy taxes to pay for the bonds.  Districts also may levy taxes that do not exceed fifty cents per thousand, up to a total general levy rate not to exceed one dollar per thousand.  There are approximately 420 fire protection districts in Washington. 

The board of fire commissioners may levy an additional fifty cents per thousand, as long as there is room under the constitutional tax rate.  The additional levy, or any portion of the levy, may also be made when dollar rates of other taxing units release by agreement from their authorized levies. 

This additional authority is also available in a county where either a) a township has never been formed, or where there are one or more townships in existence making annual tax levies and such townships are disorganized as a result of a county wide disorganization and is no longer making a tax levy; or b) any township for any other reason no longer makes any levy.

Summary of Bill: 

The authority to assess the additional fifty cents per thousand is expanded to include any fire protection district which has at least one full time, paid employee, or contracts with another municipal corporation for the services of at least one full time, paid employee.

The additional levy, or any portion of the levy, may also be made when dollar rates of other taxing units release by agreement from their authorized levies.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.