BILL REQ. #:  S-1408.1 



_____________________________________________ 

SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5332
_____________________________________________
State of Washington63rd Legislature2013 Regular Session

By Senate Governmental Operations (originally sponsored by Senators Roach, Nelson, Rolfes, Conway, Fain, and Delvin)

READ FIRST TIME 02/20/13.   



     AN ACT Relating to voter-approved benefit charges for fire protection districts; and amending RCW 52.18.050.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 52.18.050 and 1998 c 16 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) ((Any)) The initial imposition of a benefit charge authorized by this chapter ((shall not be effective unless a proposition to impose the benefit charge is)) must be approved by ((a)) sixty percent ((majority)) of the voters of the district voting at a general election or at a special election called by the district for that purpose((, held within the fire protection district)). An election held ((pursuant to this section shall)) for the initial imposition of a benefit charge must be held not more than twelve months prior to the date on which the first ((such)) charge is to be assessed((: PROVIDED, That)). A benefit charge approved at an election ((shall not remain in effect for a period of more than six years nor more than the number of)) expires in six or fewer years as authorized by the voters ((if fewer than six years)) unless subsequently reapproved by the voters.
     (2) ((The)) Ballot ((shall)) measures calling for the initial imposition of a benefit charge must be submitted so as to enable ((the)) voters favoring the authorization of a ((fire protection district)) benefit charge to vote "Yes" and those opposed ((thereto)) to vote "No," and the ballot ((shall be)) question must be as follows:

"Shall . . . . . . county fire protection district No. . . . . be authorized to impose benefit charges each year for . . . . (insert number of years not to exceed six) years, not to exceed an amount equal to sixty percent of its operating budget, and be prohibited from imposing an additional property tax under RCW 52.16.160?


YESNO
□"


     (3) ((Districts renewing the benefit charge may elect to use the following alternative ballot)) (a) The continued imposition of a benefit charge authorized by this chapter must be approved by a majority of the voters of the district voting at a general election or at a special election called by the district for that purpose.
     (b) Ballot measures calling for the continued imposition of a benefit charge must be submitted so as to enable voters favoring the continued imposition of the benefit charge to vote "Yes" and those opposed to vote "No." The ballot question must be substantially in the following form
:

"Shall . . . . . . county fire protection district No. . . . . be authorized to continue voter-authorized benefit charges each year for . . . . (insert number of years not to exceed six) years, not to exceed an amount equal to sixty percent of its operating budget, and be prohibited from imposing an additional property tax under RCW 52.16.160?


YESNO
□"

--- END ---