SENATE BILL REPORT

SJR 8222

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

State & Local Government, January 31, 2002

Brief Description:  Amending the Constitution to expand the duration excess property taxes can be imposed.

Sponsors:  Senator McCaslin.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  State & Local Government:  1/31/02 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass.

Signed by Senators Gardner, Chair; Fairley, Vice Chair; Hale, Haugen, Horn, Keiser, McCaslin, T. Sheldon and Swecker.

Staff:  Eugene Green (786‑7405)

Background:  Article VII, Section 2, of the State Constitution limits the aggregate of all tax levies upon real and personal property by the state and all taxing districts in any year to no more than 1 percent of the true and fair value of such property.  This limitation may be exceeded at a "special" or excess levy election, by which any taxing district, when specifically authorized to do so by a majority of at least three-fifths of the voters of the taxing district on the proposition may levy an additional tax for one year (if the voter turnout equals at least 40 percent of the previous general election turnout).  An exception to the one-year special levy limit are those levies for the support of common schools.  Any proposition to levy additional tax for the support of common schools may provide such support for a period of up to four years and any proposition to levy an additional tax to support the construction, modernization, or remodeling of school facilities may provide such support for a period not exceeding six years.

Summary of Bill:  All taxing districts, when specifically authorized to do so by a majority of at least three-fifths of the voters of the taxing district on the proposition (if the voter turnout equals at least 40 percent of the previous general election turnout) may levy an additional tax for a period of up to four years for general purposes and for a period of up to six years for the construction, modernization, or remodeling of facilities, as specified in the ballot proposition.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Upon approval of the voters at the November 2002 general election.

Testimony For:  This is an efficiency measure.  Elections are costly.  It lets the voters decide.  It has worked well for school districts.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  No one.