DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

(1) Introduction. The aggregate of all regular levy rates of junior taxing districts and senior taxing districts, other than the state and other specifically identified districts, cannot exceed five dollars and ninety cents per thousand dollars of assessed value in accordance with RCW 84.52.043. When the county assessor finds that this limit has been exceeded, the assessor recomputes the levy rates and establishes a new consolidated levy rate in the manner set forth in RCW 84.52.010. This section describes the prorationing process used to establish a consolidated levy rate when the assessor finds the statutory aggregate levy rate exceeds five dollars and ninety cents. If prorationing is required, the five dollar and ninety cents limit is reviewed before the constitutional one percent limit.

(2) Levies not subject to statutory aggregate dollar rate limit. The following levies are not subject to the statutory aggregate dollar rate limit of five dollars and ninety cents per thousand dollars of assessed value:

(a) Levies by the state;

(b) Levies by or for port or public utility districts;

(c) Excess property tax levies authorized in Article VII, section 2 of the state Constitution;

(d) Levies by or for county ferry districts under RCW 36.54.130;

(e) Levies for acquiring conservation futures under RCW 84.34.230;

(f) Levies for emergency medical care or emergency medical services under RCW 84.52.069;

(g) Levies for financing affordable housing for very low-income households under RCW 84.52.105;

(h) The portion of metropolitan park district levies protected under RCW 84.52.120;

(i) The portion of fire protection district levies protected under RCW 84.52.125;

(j) Levies for criminal justice purposes under RCW 84.52.135;

(k) Levies for transit-related purposes by a county under RCW 84.52.140; ((and))

(l) The protected portion of the levies imposed under RCW 86.15.160 by flood control zone districts in a county with a population of seven hundred seventy-five thousand or more that are coextensive with a county; and

(m) Levies imposed by a regional transit authority under RCW 81.104.175.

(3) Prorationing under consolidated levy rate limitation. RCW 84.52.010 sets forth the prorationing order in which the regular levies of taxing districts will be reduced or eliminated by the assessor to comply with the statutory aggregate dollar rate limit of five dollars and ninety cents per thousand dollars of assessed value. The order contained in the statute lists which taxing districts are the first to either reduce or eliminate their levy rate. Taxing districts that are at the same level within the prorationing order are grouped together in tiers. Reductions or eliminations in levy rates are made on a pro rata basis within each tier of taxing district levies until the consolidated levy rate no longer exceeds the statutory aggregate dollar rate limit of five dollars and ninety cents.

As opposed to the order contained in RCW 84.52.010, which lists the taxing districts that are the first to have their levy rates reduced or eliminated, this section is written in reverse order; that is, it lists the taxing districts that must be first either fully or partially funded. If the statutory aggregate dollar rate is exceeded, then the levy rates for taxing districts within a particular tier must be reduced or eliminated on a pro rata basis. The proration factor, which is multiplied by each levy rate within the tier, is obtained by dividing the dollar rate remaining available to the taxing districts in that tier as a group by the sum of the levy rates originally certified by or for all of the taxing districts within the tier.

(a) Step one: Total the aggregate levy rates requested by all affected taxing districts in the tax code area. If this total is less than five dollars and ninety cents per thousand dollars of assessed value, no prorationing is necessary. If this total levy rate is more than five dollars and ninety cents, the assessor must proceed through the following steps until the aggregate dollar rate is brought within that limit.

(b) Step two: Subtract from $5.90 the levy rates of the county and the county road district if the tax code area includes an unincorporated portion of the county, or the levy rates of the county and the city or town if the tax code area includes an incorporated area, as applicable.

(c) Step three: Subtract from the remaining levy capacity the levy rates, if any, for fire protection districts under RCW 52.16.130, regional fire protection service authorities under RCW 52.26.140 (1)(a), library districts under RCW 27.12.050 and 27.12.150, the first fifty cents per thousand dollars of assessed value for metropolitan park districts created before January 1, 2002, under RCW 35.61.210, and the first fifty cents per thousand dollars of assessed value for public hospital districts under RCW 70.44.060(6).

(i) If the balance is zero, there is no remaining levy capacity for any other junior taxing district at a lower tier and their levies, if any, must be eliminated.

(ii) If the balance is less than zero, then the levies within this tier must be reduced on a pro rata basis until the balance is zero. After prorationing, there is no remaining levy capacity for any other junior taxing districts at a lower tier and their levies, if any, must be eliminated.

(iii) If the remaining balance is greater than zero, this amount is available to the remaining junior taxing districts at a lower tier and the assessor should proceed on to step four.

(d) Step four: Subtract from the remaining levy capacity the levy rates, if any, for fire protection districts under RCW 52.16.140 and 52.16.160, and regional fire protection service authorities under RCW 52.26.140 (1)(b) and (c). However, under RCW 84.52.125 fire protection districts may protect up to twenty-five cents per thousand dollars of assessed value of the total levies made under RCW 52.16.140 and 52.16.160 from prorationing.

(i) If the balance is zero, there is no remaining levy capacity for any other junior taxing districts at a lower tier and their levies, if any, must be eliminated.

(ii) If the balance is less than zero, then the levies within this tier must be reduced on a pro rata basis until the balance is zero. It is at this point that the provisions of RCW 84.52.125 come into play; that is, a fire protection district may protect up to twenty-five cents per thousand dollars of assessed value of the total levies made under RCW 52.16.140 and 52.16.160 from prorationing under RCW 84.52.043(2), if the total levies would otherwise be prorated under RCW 84.52.010 (2)(e) with respect to the five-dollar and ninety cent per thousand dollars of assessed value limit. After prorationing, there is no remaining levy capacity for any other junior taxing district at a lower tier and their levies, if any, must be eliminated.

(iii) If the remaining balance is greater than zero, this amount is available to the remaining junior taxing districts at a lower tier and the assessor should proceed on to step five.

(e) Step five: Subtract from the remaining levy capacity the levy rate, if any, for the first fifty cents per thousand dollars of assessed value of metropolitan park districts created on or after January 1, 2002, under RCW 35.61.210.

(i) If the balance is zero, there is no remaining levy capacity for any other junior taxing districts at a lower tier and their levies, if any, must be eliminated.

(ii) If the balance is less than zero, then the levies within this tier must be reduced on a pro rata basis until the balance is zero. After prorationing, there is no remaining levy capacity for any other junior taxing district at a lower tier and their levies, if any, must be eliminated.

(iii) If the remaining balance is greater than zero, this amount is available to the remaining junior taxing districts at a lower tier and the assessor should proceed on to step six.

(f) Step six: Subtract from the remaining levy capacity the twenty-five cent per thousand dollars of assessed value levy rate for metropolitan park districts if it is not protected under RCW 84.52.120, the twenty-five cent per thousand dollars of assessed value levy rate for public hospital districts under RCW 70.44.060(6), and the levy rates, if any, for cemetery districts under RCW 68.52.310 and all other junior taxing districts if those levies are not listed in steps three through five or seven or eight of this subsection.

(i) If the balance is zero, there is no remaining levy capacity for any other junior taxing districts at a lower tier and their levies, if any, must be eliminated.

(ii) If the balance is less than zero, then the levies within this tier must be reduced on a pro rata basis until the balance is zero. After prorationing, there is no remaining levy capacity for any other junior taxing district at a lower tier and their levies, if any, must be eliminated.

(iii) If the remaining balance is greater than zero, this amount is available to the remaining junior taxing districts at a lower tier and the assessor should proceed on to step seven.

(g) Step seven: Subtract from the remaining levy capacity the levy rate, if any, for flood control zone districts other than the portion of a levy protected under RCW 84.52.815.

(i) If the balance is zero, there is no remaining levy capacity for any other junior taxing districts at a lower tier and their levies, if any, must be eliminated.

(ii) If the balance is less than zero, then the levies within this tier must be reduced on a pro rata basis until the balance is zero. After prorationing, there is no remaining levy capacity for any other junior taxing district at a lower tier and their levies, if any, must be eliminated.

(iii) If the remaining balance is greater than zero, this amount is available to the remaining junior taxing districts at a lower tier and the assessor should proceed on to step eight.

(h) Step eight: Subtract from the remaining levy capacity the levy rates, if any, for city transportation authorities under RCW 35.95A.100, park and recreation service areas under RCW 36.68.525, park and recreation districts under RCW 36.69.145, and cultural arts, stadium, and convention districts under RCW 67.38.130 ((on a pro rata basis until the remaining levy capacity equals zero)).

(i) Step nine: Subtract from the remaining levy capacity the levy imposed, if any, for cultural access programs under RCW 36.160.080 until the remaining levy capacity equals zero.

(4) Example.

1. Beginning with the limit of $5.90, subtract the original certified levy rates for the county and county road taxing districts leaving $1.85 available for the remaining districts.

2. Subtract the total of the levy rates for each district within the next tier: The library's $.50, the fire district's $.50 and the hospital's $.50 = $1.50, which leaves $.35 available for the remaining districts.

3. Subtract the fire district's additional $.20 levy rate, which leaves $.15 available for the remaining districts.

4. The remaining $.15 must be shared by the cemetery and the hospital districts within the next tier of levies. The cemetery district originally sought to levy $.1125 and the hospital district sought to levy $.25. The proration factor is arrived at by dividing the amount available ($.15) by the original levy rates ($.3625) requested within that tier resulting in a proration factor of .4138. And finally, the original levy rates in this tier of $.1125 and $.25 for the cemetery and hospital respectively are multiplied by the proration factor.

(1) Introduction. The total amount of all regular property tax levies that can be applied against taxable property is limited to one percent of the true and fair value of the property in money. The one percent limit is stated in Article VII, section 2 of the state Constitution and the enabling statute, RCW 84.52.050. The constitutional one percent limit is based upon the amount of taxes actually levied on the true and fair value of the property, not the dollar rate used in computing property taxes. This section explains how to determine if the constitutional one percent limit is being exceeded and the sequence in which levy rates will be reduced or eliminated in accordance with RCW 84.52.010 if the constitutional one percent limit is exceeded. The constitutional one percent calculation is made after the assessor ensures that the $5.90 statutory aggregate dollar rate limit is not exceeded.

(2) Preliminary calculations. After prorationing under RCW 84.52.043 (the five dollar and ninety cent per thousand dollars of assessed value limit) has occurred, make the following calculations to determine if the constitutional one percent limit is being exceeded:

(a) First, add all the regular levy rates, except the rates for port and public utility districts, in the tax code area, to arrive at a combined levy rate for that tax code area. "Regular levy rates" in this context means the levy rates that remain after prorationing under RCW 84.52.043 has occurred. The levy rates for port and public utility districts are not included in this computation because they are not subject to the constitutional one percent limit. The rates for the following regular levies are used to calculate the combined levy rate of any particular tax code area:

(i) The local rate for the state levy;

(ii) Levies by or for county ferry districts under RCW 36.54.130;

(iii) Levies for acquiring conservation futures under RCW 84.34.230;

(iv) Levies for emergency medical care or emergency medical services under RCW 84.52.069;

(v) Levies for financing affordable housing for very low-income households under RCW 84.52.105;

(vi) The portion of metropolitan park district levies protected under RCW 84.52.120;

(vii) The portion of fire protection district levies protected under RCW 84.52.125;

(viii) Levies for criminal justice purposes under RCW 84.52.135;

(ix) Levies for transit-related purposes by a county with a population of one million five hundred thousand or more under RCW 84.52.140; ((and))

(x) The protected portion of the levies imposed under RCW 86.15.160 by flood control zone districts in a county with a population of seven hundred seventy-five thousand or more that are coextensive with a county; and

(xi) Levies imposed, if any, by a regional transit authority under RCW 81.104.175.

(b) Second, divide ten dollars by the higher of the real or personal property ratio of the county for the assessment year in which the levy is made to determine the maximum effective levy rate. If the combined levy rate exceeds the maximum effective levy rate, then the individual levy rates must be reduced or eliminated until the combined levy rate is equal to the maximum effective levy rate.

(3) Prorationing - Constitutional one percent limit. RCW 84.52.010 sets forth the prorationing order in which levy rates are to be reduced or eliminated when the constitutional one percent limit is exceeded.

As opposed to the order contained in RCW 84.52.010, which lists the taxing districts that are the first to have their levy rates reduced or eliminated, this section is written in reverse order; that is, it lists the taxing districts that must be first either fully or partially funded. If the constitutional one percent limit is exceeded, then the levy rates for taxing districts within a particular tier must be reduced or eliminated on a pro rata basis.

If the constitutional one percent limit is exceeded after performing the preliminary calculations described in subsection (2) of this section, the following levies must be reduced or eliminated until the combined levy rate no longer exceeds the maximum effective levy rate:

(a) Step one: Subtract the levy rate for the state for the support of common schools from the effective rate limit;

(b) Step two: Subtract the levy rates for the county, county road district, regional transit authority, and for city or town purposes;

(c) Step three: Subtract from the remaining levy capacity the levy rates for fire protection districts under RCW 52.16.130, regional fire protection service authorities under RCW 52.26.140 (1)(a), library districts under RCW 27.12.050 and 27.12.150, the first fifty cents per thousand dollars of assessed value for metropolitan park districts created before January 1, 2002, under RCW 35.61.210, and the first fifty cents per thousand dollars of assessed value for public hospital districts under RCW 70.44.060(6).

(i) If the balance is zero, there is no remaining levy capacity for any other junior taxing district at a lower tier and their levies, if any, must be eliminated.

(ii) If the balance is less than zero, then the levies within this tier must be reduced on a pro rata basis until the balance is zero. After prorationing, there is no remaining levy capacity for any other junior taxing districts at a lower tier and their levies, if any, must be eliminated.

(iii) If the remaining balance is greater than zero, this amount is available to the remaining junior taxing districts at a lower tier and the assessor should proceed on to step four.

(d) Step four: Subtract from the remaining levy capacity the levy rates for fire protection districts under RCW 52.16.140 and 52.16.160, and regional fire protection service authorities under RCW 52.26.140 (1)(b) and (c).

(i) If the balance is zero, there is no remaining levy capacity for any other junior taxing districts at a lower tier and their levies, if any, must be eliminated.

(ii) If the balance is less than zero, then the levies within this tier must be reduced on a pro rata basis until the balance is zero. After prorationing, there is no remaining levy capacity for any other junior taxing district at a lower tier and their levies, if any, must be eliminated.

(iii) If the remaining balance is greater than zero, this amount is available to the remaining junior taxing districts at a lower tier and the assessor should proceed on to step five.

(e) Step five: Subtract from the remaining levy capacity the levy rate for the first fifty cents per thousand dollars of assessed value of metropolitan park districts created on or after January 1, 2002, under RCW 35.61.210.

(i) If the balance is zero, there is no remaining levy capacity for any other junior taxing districts at a lower tier and their levies, if any, must be eliminated.

(ii) If the balance is less than zero, then the levy is reduced to the remaining balance from step four. There is no remaining levy capacity for any other junior taxing district at a lower tier and their levies, if any, must be eliminated.

(iii) If the remaining balance is greater than zero, this amount is available to the remaining junior taxing districts at a lower tier and the assessor should proceed on to step six.

(f) Step six: Subtract from the remaining levy capacity the levy rates for all other junior taxing districts if those levies are not listed in steps three through five or steps seven through ((sixteen)) seventeen of this subsection.

(i) If the balance is zero, there is no remaining levy capacity for any other junior taxing districts at a lower tier and their levies, if any, must be eliminated.

(ii) If the balance is less than zero, then the levies within this tier must be reduced on a pro rata basis until the balance is zero. After prorationing, there is no remaining levy capacity for any other junior taxing district at a lower tier and their levies, if any, must be eliminated.

(iii) If the remaining balance is greater than zero, this amount is available to the remaining junior taxing districts at a lower tier and the assessor should proceed on to step seven.

(g) Step seven: Subtract from the remaining levy capacity the levy rate for flood control zone districts other than the portion of a levy protected under RCW 84.52.815.

(i) If the balance is zero, there is no remaining levy capacity for any other junior taxing districts at a lower tier and their levies, if any, must be eliminated.

(ii) If the balance is less than zero, then the levy is reduced to the remaining balance in step six. There is no remaining levy capacity for any other junior taxing district at a lower tier and their levies, if any, must be eliminated.

(iii) If the remaining balance is greater than zero, this amount is available to the remaining junior taxing districts at a lower tier and the assessor should proceed on to step eight.

(h) Step eight: Subtract from the remaining levy capacity the levy rates for city transportation authorities under RCW 35.95A.100, park and recreation service areas under RCW 36.68.525, park and recreation districts under RCW 36.69.145, and cultural arts, stadium, and convention districts under RCW 67.38.130.

(i) If the balance is zero, there is no remaining levy capacity for any other junior taxing districts at a lower tier and their levies, if any, must be eliminated.

(ii) If the balance is less than zero, then the levies within this tier must be reduced on a pro rata basis until the balance is zero. After prorationing, there is no remaining levy capacity for any other junior taxing district at a lower tier and their levies, if any, must be eliminated.

(iii) If the remaining balance is greater than zero, this amount is available to the remaining junior taxing districts at a lower tier and the assessor should proceed on to step nine.

(i) Step nine: Subtract from the remaining levy capacity the levy ((rate for)) imposed, if any, for cultural access programs under RCW 36.160.080.

(j) Step ten: Subtract from the remaining levy capacity the levy rate for the first thirty cents per thousand dollars for emergency medical care or emergency medical services under RCW 84.52.069.

(i) If the balance is zero, there is no remaining levy capacity for any other junior taxing districts at a lower tier and their levies, if any, must be eliminated.

(ii) If the balance is less than zero, then the levy is reduced to the remaining balance in step ((eight)) nine. There is no remaining levy capacity for any other junior taxing district at a lower tier and their levies, if any, must be eliminated.

(iii) If the remaining balance is greater than zero, this amount is available to the remaining junior taxing districts at a lower tier and the assessor should proceed on to step ((ten)) eleven.

(((j))) (k) Step ((ten)) eleven: Subtract from the remaining levy capacity the levy rates for levies used for acquiring conservation futures under RCW 84.34.230, financing affordable housing for very low-income households under RCW 84.52.105, and any portion of a levy rate for emergency medical care or emergency medical services under RCW 84.52.069 in excess of thirty cents per thousand dollars of assessed value.

(i) If the balance is zero, there is no remaining levy capacity for any other junior taxing districts at a lower tier and their levies, if any, must be eliminated.

(ii) If the balance is less than zero, then the levies within this tier must be reduced on a pro rata basis until the balance is zero. After prorationing, there is no remaining levy capacity for any other junior taxing district at a lower tier and their levies, if any, must be eliminated.

(iii) If the remaining balance is greater than zero, this amount is available to the remaining junior taxing districts at a lower tier and the assessor should proceed on to step ((eleven)) twelve.

(((k))) (l) Step ((eleven)) twelve: Subtract from the remaining levy capacity the portion of the levy by a metropolitan park district with a population of one hundred fifty thousand or more that is protected under RCW 84.52.120.

(i) If the balance is zero, there is no remaining levy capacity for any other junior taxing districts at a lower tier and their levies, if any, must be eliminated.

(ii) If the balance is less than zero, then the portion of the levy within this tier must be reduced to the remaining balance in step ((ten)) eleven. There is no remaining levy capacity for any other junior taxing district at a lower tier and their levies, if any, must be eliminated.

(iii) If the remaining balance is greater than zero, this amount is available to the remaining junior taxing districts at a lower tier and the assessor should proceed on to step ((twelve)) thirteen.

(((l))) (m) Step ((twelve)) thirteen: Subtract from the remaining levy capacity the levy rates for county ferry districts under RCW 36.54.130.

(i) If the balance is zero, there is no remaining levy capacity for any other junior taxing districts at a lower tier and their levies, if any, must be eliminated.

(ii) If the balance is less than zero, then the levy is reduced to the remaining balance in step ((eleven)) twelve. There is no remaining levy capacity for any other junior taxing district at a lower tier and their levies, if any, must be eliminated.

(iii) If the remaining balance is greater than zero, this amount is available to the remaining junior taxing districts at a lower tier and the assessor should proceed on to step ((thirteen)) fourteen.

(((m))) (n) Step ((thirteen)) fourteen: Subtract from the remaining levy capacity the levy rate for criminal justice purposes imposed under RCW 84.52.135.

(i) If the balance is zero, there is no remaining levy capacity for any other junior taxing districts at a lower tier and their levies, if any, must be eliminated.

(ii) If the balance is less than zero, then the levy is reduced to the remaining balance in step ((twelve)) thirteen. There is no remaining levy capacity for any other junior taxing district at a lower tier and their levies, if any, must be eliminated.

(iii) If the remaining balance is greater than zero, this amount is available to the remaining junior taxing districts at a lower tier and the assessor should proceed on to step ((fourteen)) fifteen.

(((n))) (o) Step ((fourteen)) fifteen: Subtract from the remaining levy capacity the levy rate for fire protection districts protected under RCW 84.52.125.

(i) If the balance is zero, there is no remaining levy capacity for any other junior taxing districts at a lower tier and their levies, if any, must be eliminated.

(ii) If the balance is less than zero, then the portion of the levy within this tier must be reduced to the remaining balance in step ((thirteen)) fourteen. There is no remaining levy capacity for any other junior taxing district at a lower tier and their levies, if any, must be eliminated.

(iii) If the remaining balance is greater than zero, this amount is available to the remaining junior taxing districts at a lower tier and the assessor should proceed on to step ((fifteen)) sixteen.

(((o))) (p) Step ((fifteen)) sixteen: Subtract from the remaining levy capacity the levy rate for transit-related purposes by a county under RCW 84.52.140.

(i) If the balance is zero, there is no remaining levy capacity for any other junior taxing districts at a lower tier and their levies, if any, must be eliminated.

(ii) If the balance is less than zero, then the levy is reduced to the remaining balance in step ((fourteen)) fifteen. There is no remaining levy capacity for any other junior taxing district at a lower tier and their levies, if any, must be eliminated.

(iii) If the remaining balance is greater than zero, this amount is available to the remaining junior taxing districts at a lower tier and the assessor should proceed on to step ((sixteen)) seventeen.

(((p))) (q) Step ((sixteen)) seventeen: Subtract from the remaining levy capacity the protected portion of the levy imposed under RCW 86.15.160 by a flood control zone district in a county with a population of seven hundred seventy-five thousand or more that is coextensive with a county.

(i) If the balance is zero, there is no remaining levy capacity for any other junior taxing districts at a lower tier and their levies, if any, must be eliminated.

(ii) If the balance is less than zero, then the portion of the levy within this tier must be reduced to the remaining balance in step ((fifteen)) sixteen. There is no remaining levy capacity for any other junior taxing district at a lower tier and their levies, if any, must be eliminated.

(iii) If the remaining balance is greater than zero, this amount is available to the remaining junior taxing districts at a lower tier and the assessor should proceed on to step ((seventeen)) eighteen.

(((q))) (r) Step ((seventeen)) eighteen: Subtract from the remaining levy capacity the portion of the levy by a metropolitan park district that has a population of less than one hundred fifty thousand and is located in a county with a population of one million five hundred thousand or more that is protected under RCW 84.52.120 until the remaining levy capacity equals zero.