1165-S.E AMS HAUG S3224.1

ESHB 1165 - S AMD  318

By Senator Haugen

    On page 5, after line 8, insert the following:

    "Sec. 8.  RCW 84.34.230 and 1994 c 301 s 33 are each amended to read as follows:

    For the purpose of acquiring conservation futures as well as other rights and interests in real property pursuant to RCW 84.34.210 and 84.34.220, a county may levy an amount not to exceed six and one-quarter cents per thousand dollars of assessed valuation against the assessed valuation of all taxable property within the county((, which levy shall be in addition to that authorized by RCW 84.52.043)).  The limitations in RCW 84.52.043 shall not apply to the tax levy authorized in this section.

    Sec. 9.  RCW 84.52.069 and 1994 c 79 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) As used in this section, "taxing district" means a county, emergency medical service district, city or town, public hospital district, urban emergency medical service district, or fire protection district.

    (2) A taxing district may impose additional regular property tax levies in an amount equal to fifty cents or less per thousand dollars of the assessed value of property in the taxing district in each year for six consecutive years when specifically authorized so to do by a majority of at least three-fifths of the registered voters thereof approving a proposition authorizing the levies submitted at a general or special election, at which election the number of persons voting "yes" on the proposition shall constitute three-fifths of a number equal to forty percent of the total number of voters voting in such taxing district at the last preceding general election when the number of registered voters voting on the proposition does not exceed forty percent of the total number of voters voting in such taxing district in the last preceding general election; or by a majority of at least three-fifths of the registered voters thereof voting on the proposition when the number of registered voters voting on the proposition exceeds forty percent of the total number of voters voting in such taxing district in the last preceding general election.  Ballot propositions shall conform with RCW 29.30.111.

    (3) Any tax imposed under this section shall be used only for the provision of emergency medical care or emergency medical services, including related personnel costs, training for such personnel, and related equipment, supplies, vehicles and structures needed for the provision of emergency medical care or emergency medical services.

    (4) If a county levies a tax under this section, no taxing district within the county may levy a tax under this section.  No other taxing district may levy a tax under this section if another taxing district has levied a tax under this section within its boundaries:  PROVIDED, That if a county levies less than fifty cents per thousand dollars of the assessed value of property, then any other taxing district may levy a tax under this section equal to the difference between the rate of the levy by the county and fifty cents:  PROVIDED FURTHER, That if a taxing district within a county levies this tax, and the voters of the county subsequently approve a levying of this tax, then the amount of the taxing district levy within the county shall be reduced, when the combined levies exceed fifty cents.  Whenever a tax is levied county-wide, the service shall, insofar as is feasible, be provided throughout the county:  PROVIDED FURTHER, That no county-wide levy proposal may be placed on the ballot without the approval of the legislative authority of each city exceeding fifty thousand population within the county:  AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That this section and RCW 36.32.480 shall not prohibit any city or town from levying an annual excess levy to fund emergency medical services:  AND PROVIDED, FURTHER, That if a county proposes to impose tax levies under this section, no other ballot proposition authorizing tax levies under this section by another taxing district in the county may be placed before the voters at the same election at which the county ballot proposition is placed:  AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That any taxing district emergency medical service levy that is authorized subsequent to a county emergency medical service levy, shall expire concurrently with the county emergency medical service levy.

    (5) The ((tax levy authorized in this section is in addition to the tax levy authorized)) limitations in RCW 84.52.043 shall not apply to the tax levy authorized in this section.

    (6) The limitation in RCW 84.55.010 shall not apply to the first levy imposed pursuant to this section following the approval of such levy by the voters pursuant to subsection (2) of this section.

    Sec. 10.  RCW 84.52.105 and 1993 c 337 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) A county, city, or town may impose additional regular property tax levies of up to fifty cents per thousand dollars of assessed value of property in each year for up to ten consecutive years to finance affordable housing for very low-income households when specifically authorized to do so by a majority of the voters of the taxing district voting on a ballot proposition authorizing the levies.  If both a county, and a city or town within the county, impose levies authorized under this section, the levies of the last jurisdiction to receive  voter approval for the levies shall be reduced or eliminated so that the combined rates of these levies may not exceed fifty cents per thousand dollars of assessed valuation in any area within the county.  A ballot proposition authorizing a levy under this section must conform with RCW 84.52.054.

    (2) The additional property tax levies may not be imposed until:

    (a) The governing body of the county, city, or town declares the existence of an emergency with respect to the availability of housing that is affordable to very low-income households in the taxing district; and

    (b) The governing body of the county, city, or town adopts an affordable housing financing plan to serve as the plan for expenditure of funds raised by a levy authorized under this section, and the governing body determines that the affordable housing financing plan is consistent with either the locally adopted or state-adopted comprehensive housing affordability strategy, required under the Cranston-Gonzalez national affordable housing act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12701, et seq.), as amended.

    (3) For purposes of this section, the term "very low-income household" means a single person, family, or unrelated persons living together whose income is at or below fifty percent of the median income, as determined by the United States department of housing and urban development, with adjustments for household size, for the county where the taxing district is located.

(4) The limitations in RCW 84.52.043 shall not apply to the tax levy authorized in this section."

    Renumber the remaining sections consecutively and correct any internal references accordingly.

ESHB 1165 - S AMD  318

By Senator Haugen

    On page 1, line 3 of the title, after "9.41.135," strike "and 82.32.320" and insert "82.32.320, 84.34.230, 84.52.069, and 84.52.105"

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