SENATE BILL REPORT

                            SB 5916

      AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS,

                         MARCH 3, 1993

Brief Description:  Changing provisions relating to emergency medical services tax levies.

SPONSORS: Senators Haugen and Erwin

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Haugen, Chairman; Drew, Vice Chairman; Loveland, Oke, Owen, von Reichbauer, and Winsley.

Staff:  Rod McAulay (786‑7754)

Hearing Dates: March 2, 1993; March 3, 1993

BACKGROUND:

Counties, emergency medical service districts, cities or towns, public hospital districts and fire protection districts may impose an additional regular property tax levy up to 50 cents per $1,000 in assessed value for a period of six consecutive years when authorized by a 60 percent supermajority of the voters.  This levy may only be used for emergency medical care or services.

No provision is made in statute for the situation where a city, such as Bothell, straddles two counties and one county imposes a countywide EMS levy and the other county does not.

SUMMARY:

Where a city is located in two counties and only one county has approved a countywide EMS levy, the city may elect to have the countywide levy apply throughout the city or to exclude itself from the countywide levy and impose its own EMS levy. 

If the city elects to have the countywide levy apply throughout the city, both counties collect the levy within the area of the city located within each county's borders, but the county without a countywide levy submits the money collected to the other county. 

If the city elects to exclude itself from the countywide levy, the voters of the city may impose a citywide levy and either county shall be precluded from imposing a countywide levy in the area of the city.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

This bill resolves the dilemma under current law by authorizing a countywide levy to be collected in that portion of a city located in the neighboring county or by excluding the countywide levy from all of the city if the city opts out.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Manny O'Campo, Bothell Assistant City Manager; Richard Duncan, Bothell Fire Chief