S-0835.1 _______________________________________________
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 8209
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State of Washington 55th Legislature 1997 Regular Session
By Senators Goings, McAuliffe, Winsley, Kohl, Hochstatter, Spanel, Wood, Bauer, Newhouse, Patterson, Finkbeiner, Hale, Deccio, McCaslin, Sheldon, Loveland, McDonald, Strannigan, Rasmussen, Jacobsen, Fairley, Snyder, Franklin, Kline and Brown
Read first time 01/27/97. Referred to Committee on Education.
BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, IN LEGISLATIVE SESSION ASSEMBLED:
THAT, At the next general election to be held in this state the secretary of state shall submit to the qualified voters of the state for their approval and ratification, or rejection, an amendment to Article VII, section 2 of the Constitution of the state of Washington to read as follows:
Article VII, section 2. Except as hereinafter provided and notwithstanding any other provision of this Constitution, the aggregate of all tax levies upon real and personal property by the state and all taxing districts now existing or hereafter created, shall not in any year exceed one per centum of the true and fair value of such property in money: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That nothing herein shall prevent levies at the rates now provided by law by or for any port or public utility district. The term "taxing district" for the purposes of this section shall mean any political subdivision, municipal corporation, district, or other governmental agency authorized by law to levy, or have levied for it, ad valorem taxes on property, other than a port or public utility district. Such aggregate limitation or any specific limitation imposed by law in conformity therewith may be exceeded only
(a)
By any taxing district when specifically authorized so to do by a majority of
at least three‑fifths of the ((electors)) voters thereof
voting on the proposition to levy such additional tax submitted not more than
twelve months prior to the date on which the proposed initial levy is to
be made and not oftener than twice in such twelve month period, either at a
special election or at the regular election of such taxing district, at which
election the number of ((persons)) voters voting "yes"
on the proposition shall constitute three‑fifths of a number equal to
forty per centum of the total ((votes cast)) number of voters voting
in such taxing district at the last preceding general election when the number
of ((electors)) voters voting on the proposition does not exceed
forty per centum of the total ((votes cast)) 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 ((electors)) voters
thereof voting on the proposition to levy when the number of ((electors))
voters voting on the proposition exceeds forty ((percentum)) per
centum of the total ((votes cast)) number of voters voting in
such taxing district in the last preceding general election: PROVIDED, That
notwithstanding any other provision of this Constitution, any proposition
pursuant to this subsection to levy additional tax for the support of the
common schools may provide such support for a ((two year)) period not
exceeding four years and any proposition to levy an additional tax to
support the construction, modernization, or remodelling of school facilities
may provide such support for a period not exceeding six years;
(b)
By any taxing district otherwise authorized by law to issue general obligation
bonds for capital purposes, for the sole purpose of making the required
payments of principal and interest on general obligation bonds issued solely
for capital purposes, other than the replacement of equipment, when authorized
so to do by majority of at least three‑fifths of the ((electors)) voters
thereof voting on the proposition to issue such bonds and to pay the principal
and interest thereon by an annual tax levy in excess of the limitation herein
provided during the term of such bonds, submitted not oftener than twice in any
calendar year, at an election held in the manner provided by law for bond
elections in such taxing district, at which election the total number of ((persons))
voters voting on the proposition shall constitute not less than forty
per centum of the total number of ((votes cast)) voters voting in
such taxing district at the last preceding general election: PROVIDED, That
any such 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 limitation provided for herein((,)):
AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That the provisions of this section shall also be subject
to the limitations contained in Article VIII, Section 6, of this Constitution;
(c) By the state or any taxing district for the purpose of paying the principal or interest on general obligation bonds outstanding on December 6, 1934; or for the purpose of preventing the impairment of the obligation of a contract when ordered so to do by a court of last resort.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the secretary of state shall cause notice of this constitutional amendment to be published at least four times during the four weeks next preceding the election in every legal newspaper in the state.
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