HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1924

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                    Government Operations

Title:  An act relating to notifying property owners of property taxes due on their property.

Brief Description:  Providing for notice to property owners of property taxes due.

Sponsors:  Representatives Koster, Goldsmith, Cairnes, Stevens, Clements, McMahan, Benton, D. Schmidt, Elliot, Smith, Campbell, Radcliff, Thompson and Hargrove.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Government Operations:  2/28/95 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 9 members:  Representatives Reams, Chairman; Goldsmith, Vice Chairman; L. Thomas, Vice Chairman; Hargrove; Honeyford; Hymes; Mulliken; D. Schmidt and Van Luven.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 6 members:  Representatives Rust, Ranking Minority Member; Scott, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Chopp; R. Fisher; Sommers and Wolfe.

Staff:  Bill Lynch (786-7092).

Background:  The county treasurer is required to notify each taxpayer, at the expense of the county, of the amount of tax due on real and personal property.

Some financial institutions pay taxes on behalf of the property owners.  The county treasurer may, but is not required to, send a notice of the amount of taxes that are due to these property owners because they do not pay the taxes.

Summary of Bill:  The county treasurer, at the cost of the county, must notify the owner or owners of property shown on the assessors roll of the amount of property tax due.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on February 28, 1995.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  People will be better informed where their taxes go if they get the tax statements.  This enables voters to make more informed decisions at the poll.  It is worth the extra cost to have a better informed citizenry.

Testimony Against:  This is an unfunded mandate on the counties.  Counties already provide duplicate statements upon request.  The financial institutions should send the statement to the property owners.

Testified:  Representative Koster, prime sponsor; and Mike Murphy, Thurston County Treasurer.