S-0644.1 _______________________________________________
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 8214
_______________________________________________
State of Washington 53rd Legislature 1993 Regular Session
By Senators Fraser and M. Rasmussen
Read first time 02/05/93. Referred to Committee on Labor & Commerce.
BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, IN LEGISLATIVE SESSION ASSEMBLED:
THAT, At the next general election to be held in this state there shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the state for their approval and ratification, or rejection, an amendment to Article VII, of the Constitution of the state of Washington by amending section 2 and by adding a new section, both to read as follows:
Article VII, section 2. LIMITATION ON LEVIES. Except as hereinafter provided and notwithstanding any other provision of this Constitution, the aggregate of all tax levies upon real and personal property by the state and all taxing districts now existing or hereafter created, shall not in any year exceed one per centum of the true and fair value of such property in money: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That nothing herein shall prevent levies at the rates now provided by law by or for any port or public utility district. The term "taxing district" for the purposes of this section shall mean any political subdivision, municipal corporation, district, or other governmental agency authorized by law to levy, or have levied for it, ad valorem taxes on property, other than a port or public utility district. Such aggregate limitation or any specific limitation imposed by law in conformity therewith may be exceeded only:
(a) By any taxing district when specifically
authorized so to do by a majority of at least three‑fifths of the
electors thereof voting on the proposition to levy such additional tax
submitted not more than twelve months prior to the date on which the proposed
levy is to be made and not oftener than twice in such twelve month period,
either at a special election or at the regular election of such taxing
district, at which election the number of persons voting "yes" on
the proposition shall constitute three‑fifths of a number equal to forty
per centum of the total votes cast in such taxing district at the last
preceding general election when the number of electors voting on the
proposition does not exceed forty per centum of the total votes cast in such
taxing district in the last preceding general election; or by a majority of at
least three‑fifths of the electors thereof voting on the proposition to
levy when the number of electors voting on the proposition exceeds forty
percentum of the total votes cast in such taxing district in the last preceding
general election: PROVIDED, That notwithstanding any other provision of this
Constitution, any proposition pursuant to this subsection to levy additional
tax for the support of the common schools may provide such support for a two
year period and any proposition to levy an additional tax to support the
construction, modernization, or remodelling of school facilities may provide
such support for a period not exceeding six years((;)).
(b) By any taxing district otherwise authorized
by law to issue general obligation bonds for capital purposes, for the sole
purpose of making the required payments of principal and interest on general
obligation bonds issued solely for capital purposes, other than the replacement
of equipment, when authorized so to do by majority of at least three‑fifths
of the electors thereof voting on the proposition to issue such bonds and to
pay the principal and interest thereon by an annual tax levy in excess of the
limitation herein provided during the term of such bonds, submitted not oftener
than twice in any calendar year, at an election held in the manner provided by
law for bond elections in such taxing district, at which election the total
number of persons voting on the proposition shall constitute not less than
forty per centum of the total number of votes cast in such taxing district at
the last preceding general election: PROVIDED, That any such taxing district
shall have the right by vote of its governing body to refund any general obligation
bonds of said district issued for capital purposes only, and to provide for the
interest thereon and amortization thereof by annual levies in excess of the tax
limitation provided for herein, AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That the provisions of
this section shall also be subject to the limitations contained in Article
VIII, Section 6, of this Constitution((;)).
(c) By the state or any taxing district for the purpose of paying the principal or interest on general obligation bonds outstanding on December 6, 1934; or for the purpose of preventing the impairment of the obligation of a contract when ordered so to do by a court of last resort.
(d) By the state or county for the purpose of funding the relief program authorized in section 12 of this Article.
Article VII, section 12. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Constitution, the legislature shall have the power, by appropriate legislation, to grant to low-income renters relief from property taxes on the real property occupied as a residence by those persons. The legislature shall define "low-income" and may place such restrictions and conditions upon the granting of such relief as it shall deem proper. The relief may be funded by ad valorem property levies at the state or county level or by such other method as may be provided by the legislature.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the foregoing amendment shall be construed as a single amendment within the meaning of Article XXIII, section 1 of the state Constitution.
The legislature finds that the changes contained in the foregoing amendment constitute a single integrated plan for the provision of property tax relief to renters. If the foregoing amendment is held to be separate amendments, this joint resolution shall be void in its entirety and shall be of no further force and effect.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the secretary of state shall cause notice of the foregoing constitutional amendment to be published at least four times during the four weeks next preceding the election in every legal newspaper in the state.
--- END ---