SHB 1631 -
By Representative Schindler
FAILED 03/14/2005
Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:
"Sec. 1 RCW 84.34.230 and 1995 c 318 s 8 are each amended to read
as follows:
For the purpose of acquiring conservation futures ((as well as))
and other rights and interests in real property pursuant to RCW
84.34.210 and 84.34.220, and for maintaining and operating any property
acquired, a county may levy an amount not to exceed six and one-quarter
cents per thousand dollars of assessed valuation against the assessed
valuation of all taxable property within the county. The limitations
in RCW 84.52.043 shall not apply to the tax levy authorized in this
section. Any rights or interests in real property acquired under this
section must be located within the assessing county.
Sec. 2 RCW 84.34.240 and 1971 ex.s. c 243 s 5 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) Any board of county commissioners may establish by resolution
a special fund which may be termed a conservation futures fund to which
it may credit all taxes levied pursuant to RCW 84.34.230. Amounts
placed in this fund ((may)) shall be used ((solely)) for the purpose of
acquiring rights and interests in real property pursuant to the terms
of RCW 84.34.210 and 84.34.220, and for the maintenance and operation
of any property acquired. The amount of revenue used for maintenance
and operations of parks and recreational facilities may not exceed
twenty-five percent of the total amount collected from the tax levied
under RCW 84.34.230 in the preceding calendar year. Revenues from this
tax may not be used to supplant existing maintenance and operation
funding. Any rights or interests in real property acquired under this
section must be located within the assessing county.
(2) In counties greater than one hundred thousand in population,
the board of county commissioners or county legislative authority shall
develop a process to help ensure distribution of the tax levied under
RCW 84.34.230, over time, throughout the county.
(3) Nothing in this section shall be construed as limiting in any
manner methods and funds otherwise available to a county for financing
the acquisition of such rights and interests in real property."
EFFECT: (1) Eliminates the property tax increase authorized under section 1 of the substitute bill; (2) Authorizes the use of up to twenty-five percent of the revenues derived from the conservation futures tax levy to be used for the maintenance and operation of acquired properties.