BP BHEAD INT S

AN ACT Relating to the distribution of motor vehicle excise taxes to cities; amending RCW 82.14.210; and providing an effective date.

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

Sec. 1. RCW 82.14.210 and 1991 sp.s. c 13 s 16 are each amended to read as follows:

There is created in the state treasury a special account to be known as the "municipal sales and use tax equalization account." Into this account shall be placed such revenues as are provided under RCW 82.44.110(1)(e). Funds in this account shall be allocated by the state treasurer according to the following procedure:

(1) Prior to January 1st of each year the department of revenue shall determine the total and the per capita levels of revenues for each city and the state-wide weighted average per capita level of revenues for all cities imposing the sales and use tax authorized under RCW 82.14.030(1) for the previous calendar year.

(2) At such times as distributions are made under RCW 82.44.150, the state treasurer shall apportion to each city not imposing the sales and use tax under RCW 82.14.030(2) an amount from the municipal sales and use tax equalization account equal to the amount distributed to the city under RCW 82.44.155, multiplied by ((~~thirty-five sixty-fifths~~)) forty‑five fifty‑fifths.

(3) Subsequent to the distributions under subsection (2) of this section, and at such times as distributions are made under RCW 82.44.150, the state treasurer shall apportion to each city imposing the sales and use tax under RCW 82.14.030(1) at the maximum rate and receiving less than seventy percent of the state-wide weighted average per capita level of revenues for all cities as determined by the department of revenue under subsection (1) of this section, an amount from the municipal sales and use tax equalization account sufficient, when added to the per capita level of revenues received the previous calendar year by the city, to equal seventy percent of the state-wide weighted average per capita level of revenues for all cities determined under subsection (1) of this section, subject to reduction under subsection (6) of this section.

(4) Subsequent to the distributions under subsection (3) of this section, and at such times as distributions are made under RCW 82.44.150, the state treasurer shall apportion to each city imposing the sales and use tax under RCW 82.14.030(2) at the maximum rate and receiving a distribution under subsection (3) of this section, a third distribution from the municipal sales and use tax equalization account. The distribution to each qualifying city shall be equal to the distribution to the city under subsection (3) of this section, subject to the reduction under subsection (6) of this section. To qualify for the distributions under this subsection, the city must impose the tax under RCW 82.14.030(2) for the entire calendar year. Cities imposing the tax for less than the full year shall qualify for prorated allocations under this subsection proportionate to the number of months of the year during which the tax is imposed.

(5) For a city with an official incorporation date after January 1, 1990, municipal sales and use tax equalization distributions shall be made according to the procedures in this subsection. Municipal sales and use tax equalization distributions to eligible new cities shall be made at the same time as distributions are made under subsections (3) and (4) of this section. The department of revenue shall follow the estimating procedures outlined in this subsection until the new city has received a full year's worth of revenues under RCW 82.14.030(1) as of the January municipal sales and use tax equalization distribution.

(a) Whether a newly incorporated city determined to receive funds under this subsection receives its first equalization payment at the January, April, July, or October municipal sales and use tax equalization distribution shall depend on the date the city first imposes the tax authorized under RCW 82.14.030(1).

(i) A newly incorporated city imposing the tax authorized under RCW 82.14.030(1) effective as of January 1st shall be eligible to receive funds under this subsection beginning with the April municipal sales and use tax equalization distribution of that year.

(ii) A newly incorporated city imposing the tax authorized under RCW 82.14.030(1) effective as of February 1st, March 1st, or April 1st shall be eligible to receive funds under this subsection beginning with the July municipal sales and use tax equalization distribution of that year.

(iii) A newly incorporated city imposing the tax authorized under RCW 82.14.030(1) effective as of May 1st, June 1st, or July 1st shall be eligible to receive funds under this subsection beginning with the October municipal sales and use tax equalization distribution of that year.

(iv) A newly incorporated city imposing the tax authorized under RCW 82.14.030(1) effective as of August 1st, September 1st, or October 1st shall be eligible to receive funds under this subsection beginning with the January municipal sales and use tax equalization distribution of the next year.

(v) A newly incorporated city imposing the tax authorized under RCW 82.14.030(1) effective as of November 1st or December 1st shall be eligible to receive funds under this subsection beginning with the April municipal sales and use tax equalization distribution of the next year.

(b) For purposes of calculating the amount of funds the new city should receive under this subsection, the department of revenue shall:

(i) Estimate the per capita amount of revenues from the tax authorized under RCW 82.14.030(1) that the new city would have received had the city received revenues from the tax the entire calendar year;

(ii) Calculate the amount provided under subsection (3) of this section based on the per capita revenues determined under (b)(i) of this subsection;

(iii) Prorate the amount determined under (b)(ii) of this subsection by the number of months the tax authorized under RCW 82.14.030(1) is imposed.

(c) A new city imposing the tax under RCW 82.14.030(2) at the maximum rate and receiving a distribution calculated under (b) of this subsection shall receive another distribution from the municipal sales and use tax equalization account. This distribution shall be equal to the calculation made under (b)(ii) of this subsection, prorated by the number of months the city imposes the tax authorized under RCW 82.14.030(2) at the full rate.

(d) The department of revenue shall advise the state treasurer of the amounts calculated under (b) and (c) of this subsection and the state treasurer shall distribute these amounts to the new city from the municipal sales and use tax equalization account subject to the limitations imposed in subsection (6) of this section.

(e) Revenues estimated under this subsection shall not affect the calculation of the state-wide weighted average per capita level of revenues for all cities made under subsection (1) of this section.

(6) If inadequate revenues exist in the municipal sales and use tax equalization account to make the distributions under subsection (3), (4), or (5) of this section, then the distributions under subsections (3), (4), and (5) of this section shall be reduced ratably among the qualifying cities. At such time during the year as additional funds accrue to the municipal sales and use tax equalization account, additional distributions shall be made under subsections (3), (4), and (5) of this section to the cities.

(7) If the level of revenues in the municipal sales and use tax equalization account exceeds the amount necessary to make the distributions under subsections (2) through (5) of this section, then the additional revenues shall be apportioned among the several cities within the state ratably on the basis of population as last determined by the office of financial management: PROVIDED, That no such distribution shall be made to those cities receiving a distribution under subsection (2) of this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 1996.