SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SSB 6731

              As Passed Senate, February 16, 1998

Title:  An act relating to airport property in this state belonging to municipal corporations in adjoining states.

Brief Description:  Removing a property tax exemption for larger airports belonging to out‑of‑state municipal corporations.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Newhouse and Deccio).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Ways & Means:  2/6/98, 2/9/98 [DPS].

Passed Senate, 2/16/98, 45-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6731 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators West, Chair; Deccio, Vice Chair; Strannigan, Vice Chair; Bauer, Brown, Fraser, Hochstatter, Kohl, Long, Loveland, McDonald, Roach, Rossi, Schow, B. Sheldon, Snyder, Spanel, Swecker, Thibaudeau, Winsley and Zarelli.

Staff:  Terry Wilson (786-7433)

Background:  All property in this state is subject to the property tax each year based on the property=s value unless a specific exemption is provided by law.  The only class of property which is exempt by the state Constitution is that owned by the United States, the state, its counties, school districts, and other municipal corporations, but the state Constitution allows the Legislature to exempt other property from taxation.

Real and personal property belonging to municipal corporations in adjoining states which is used primarily for airport purposes is exempt from property tax.

Summary of Bill:  The property tax exemption for real and personal property belonging to municipal corporations in adjoining states which is used primarily for airport purposes is limited to airports of 500 acres or less.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  Ownership of the Dalles Airport has been a long-term aggravation for the area and caused many problems.  Tax exempt status prevents the area from moving forward.  Economic development is going on across the river on the Oregon side.  Klickitat County should also benefit.  The Gorge Act has prevented development in the area.  There is virtually no property that can be developed.  This is a first step in helping the area get jurisdictional control.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO: Representative Jim Honeyford, 15th District; Lane Smith, Joan Frey, Klickitat County.