Title: An act relating to an extension of the commencement-of-construction date for a sales and use tax for public facilities districts in national disaster area counties.

Brief Description: Extending the commencement-of-construction date for a sales and use tax for public facilities districts in national disaster counties.

Sponsors: Representatives Alexander, DeBolt, Hunt and McCune.

Brief History: Passed House: 2/18/08, 95-0.

Committee Activity: Ways & Means: 2/25/08 [DP, w/oRec].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Prentice, Chair; Fraser, Vice Chair, Capital Budget Chair; Pridemore, Vice Chair, Operating Budget; Zarelli, Ranking Minority Member; Brandland, Carrell, Fairley, Hatfield, Hobbs, Honeyford, Keiser, Kohl-Welles, Oemig, Parlette, Rasmussen, Regala, Roach, Rockefeller and Schoesler.

Minority Report: That it be referred without recommendation.Signed by Senator Tom.

Staff: Dean Carlson (786-7305)

Background: Public facilities districts (PFDs) are municipal corporations with independent taxing authority and are taxing districts under the State Constitution. There are two enabling statutes, one for counties (County PFDs) and another for cities and joint arrangements between a group of cities or a county and one or more cities (City PFDs). Governance provisions are spelled out for these districts.

County PFDs may be created in any county. The boundaries of a County PFD are co-extensive with the boundaries of the county. Many County PFD provisions were modified as part of the baseball stadium legislation in 1995. County PFDs may construct, improve, or remodel sports facilities, entertainment facilities, convention facilities, or regional centers as defined above. County PFDs may be funded through a combination of: (1) charges and fees for the use of facilities by organizations; (2) taxes on admission charges; (3) taxes on vehicle parking charges; (4) voter-approved sales and use taxes; (5) credits against the state sales and use tax; (6) lodging taxes; (7) voter-approved property taxes; and (8) bonds. King County contains one County PFD created for the purpose of the construction, maintenance, and operation of Safeco Field, the baseball stadium.

In 2007 the Legislature enacted EHB 2388, which authorized a City PFD or County PFD created before September 1, 2007, in a county without any existing PFD, to collect a 0.033 percent credit against the state sales and use tax. At the time the resolution creating the PFD was adopted, the population within the boundaries of the PFD must have been greater than 70,000. Lewis County met these requirements and adopted a resolution creating a County PFD on August 13, 2007. As a final requirement to qualify for the credit against the state sales and use tax, Lewis County must commence construction of a new regional center before January 1, 2009.

In December 2007 many areas of western Washington, including Lewis County, had massive flooding. The President declared Washington's flooding a major disaster and designated eleven counties, including Lewis County, as major disaster areas eligible for maximum assistance from the federal emergency management agency.

Summary of Bill: The date the Lewis County PFD must commence construction of a regional center to collect the 0.033 percent credit against the state sales and use tax is changed from January 1, 2009, to January 1, 2011.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect on July 1, 2008.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony (on companion SB 6905): PRO: We need this time extension because of the length of time for the environmental analysis and the increased permitting process in the area due to the flooding.

Persons Testifying (on companion SB 6905): PRO: Rose Bowman, Bill Schulte, Lewis County PFD.