SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5530

                As Passed Senate, March 9, 1999

Title:  An act relating to correcting errors related to property tax levies.

Brief Description:  Correcting errors related to property tax levies.

Sponsors:  Senators Loveland and Winsley; by request of Department of Revenue.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Ways & Means:  2/10/99, 2/16/99 [DP].

Passed Senate, 3/9/99, 49-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Loveland, Chair; Bauer, Vice Chair; Fairley, Fraser, Honeyford, Kline, Kohl‑Welles, Long, McDonald, Rasmussen, Rossi, B. Sheldon, Snyder, Spanel, Thibaudeau, Winsley and Zarelli.

Staff:  David Schumacher (786-7474)

Background:  All real and personal 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.

Each year, the amount of tax to be levied by each taxing district is certified to the county assessor.  The assessor then calculates the appropriate tax rates.  The tax bill is then determined by multiplying the assessed value by the tax rate for each taxing district in which the property is located.

Summary of Bill:  A method (and specific legal authority) is provided for correcting errors that occur when taxing districts set property tax levies.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  This bill provides statutory guidance to the department.  It is important that all 38 counties correct their levies in the same way.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Tim Sekerak, Department of Revenue (pro).