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H-0490.1 _______________________________________________

HOUSE BILL 1170

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State of Washington 54th Legislature 1995 Regular Session

By Representatives Stevens, Hargrove, Casada, Smith, Blanton, Thompson, D. Schmidt, Mulliken, Sherstad, Elliot, Crouse, Fuhrman, Benton, Campbell and Pelesky

Read first time 01/16/95. Referred to Committee on Education.

AN ACT Relating to requiring school district levy and bond elections to be conducted at primary and general elections; and amending RCW 84.52.053 and 84.52.056.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 84.52.053 and 1994 c 116 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

The limitations imposed by RCW 84.52.050 through 84.52.056, and 84.52.043 shall not prevent the levy of taxes by school districts, when authorized so to do by the voters of such school district in the manner and for the purposes and number of years allowable under Article VII, section 2(a) of the Constitution of this state. Elections for such taxes shall be held on the state primary or general election day in the year in which the levy is made or, in the case of propositions authorizing two-year levies for maintenance and operation support of a school district, authorizing two-year levies for transportation vehicle funds established in RCW 28A.160.130, or authorizing two-year through six-year levies to support the construction, modernization, or remodeling of school facilities, in the year in which the first annual levy is made: PROVIDED, That once additional tax levies have been authorized for maintenance and operation support of a school district for a two-year period, no further additional tax levies for maintenance and operation support of the district for that period may be authorized.

((A special election may be called and the time therefor fixed by the board of school directors, by giving notice thereof by publication in the manner provided by law for giving notices of general elections, at which special election)) The proposition authorizing such excess levy shall be submitted in such form as to enable the voters favoring the proposition to vote "yes" and those opposed thereto to vote "no".

The proposition shall clearly list in specific detail the purposes for which the levy proceeds shall be expended, and the proceeds may be expended only for the purposes and in the amounts specified in the proposition.

Sec. 2. RCW 84.52.056 and 1973 1st ex.s. c 195 s 104 are each amended to read as follows:

Any municipal corporation otherwise authorized by law to issue general obligation bonds for capital purposes may, at an election duly held after giving notice thereof as required by law, authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds for capital purposes only, which shall not include the replacement of equipment, and provide for the payment of the principal and interest of such bonds by annual levies in excess of the tax limitations contained in RCW 84.52.050 to 84.52.056, inclusive and RCW 84.52.043. Such an election shall not be held oftener than twice a calendar year, and the proposition to issue any such bonds and to exceed said tax limitation must receive the affirmative vote of a three-fifths majority of those voting on the proposition and the total number of persons voting at such election must constitute not less than forty percent of the voters in said municipal corporation who voted at the last preceding general state election. Elections for authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds by school districts for capital purposes shall be held on the state primary or general election day.

Propositions for the issuance of bonds by school districts shall clearly list in specific detail the purposes for which the bond proceeds shall be expended, and the proceeds may be expended only for the purposes and in the amounts specified in the proposition.

Any 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 limitations provided for in RCW 84.52.050 to 84.52.056, inclusive and RCW 84.52.043.