BILL REQ. #:  H-0920.2 

Read first time 02/25/2003.   Referred to Committee on Finance.

     AN ACT Relating to restoring the American dream by providing a tax exemption for property that has declined in value due to shoreline or growth management regulation; adding a new section to chapter 84.36 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 84.36 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Eligible regulated real property is exempt from taxation from regular property tax levies by the state, city or town, and county. Eligible regulated real property means real property for which the land value has been reduced by ten percent or more after November 20, 2002, as a result of regulation under a shoreline master program adopted under chapter 90.58 RCW or under an amendment to or new comprehensive plan or development regulations adopted under chapter 36.70A RCW. The exemption continues until the cumulative tax savings due to the exemption equals or exceeds the reduction in value.
     (2) A claim for exemption shall be made and filed on or before March 31st with the county assessor. The claim for exemption must be filed within five years of the adoption of the regulation. To establish the value reduction, the property owner may petition the county assessor under RCW 84.40.039 or establish the value reduction through an appraisal report prepared by a state-certified general real estate appraiser licensed under chapter 18.140 RCW. The value reduction shall be determined with reference to the value on January 1st of the year in which the regulation under subsection (1) of this section is adopted.
     (3) If the value reduction is established by the assessor, the owner may petition the county board of equalization for a change in the value reduction within thirty days of being notified of the assessor's valuation. If the value reduction is established by an appraisal report, the state, city or town, or county in which the property is located may petition the county board of equalization for a change in the value reduction established in the appraisal report within thirty days of receiving the appraisal report. Upon review by the county board of equalization, board of tax appeals, or any court, the value reduction established by an appraisal report is presumed correct, however, this presumption is not a defense against any correction indicated by clear, cogent, and convincing evidence.
     (4) The assessor shall either approve or deny the exemption and notify the property owner in writing by August 1st. The property owner may appeal the assessor's determination under the provisions of RCW 84.48.010.
     (5) The levy for a taxing district in any year shall be reduced as necessary to prevent exemptions under this section from resulting in a higher tax rate than would have occurred in the absence of the exemptions under this section.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   This act applies to taxes levied for collection in 2004 and thereafter.